Welcome spring. In the midst of natural disasters, the war, and a plunging economy it is nice to see the blades of grass, blossoming trees and blooming flowers. It is nice to know that spring is a part of the annual cycle of change since while my mind knows that with dark comes dawn but my heart says that when you are deep in the pit of darkness, the shafts of the dawn can seem very far away.

Spring is a time for renewal and awakening and the end to the dark, harsh winter. Color appears in spring in nature and in fashion. The earth is moving closer to the sun and Mother Nature makes certain that we feel it- in warmer breezes in the air, the sharp smell of fresh dirt and the chirps of the baby birds.

Spring represents opportunity but as urban dwellers, we have learned to carefully schedule time with Mother Nature. We fill our calendars with Saturday hikes for girl scouts, Sunday picnics in the park, weekend biking trips and week-long family beach vacations to offset the cold void found in winter. Instead of waiting until the allotted scheduled weekly, monthly or annual time, each day we should find some small way to salute her.

Spring affects us too- we smile more, walk taller, and take the time to celebrate – from Easter and Mothers Day to graduations and Father’s Day- spring is a season that we enjoy.

Hope is a feeling associated with spring. It is my hope that less children will go hungry, people will stop dying from AIDS, conflicts both in the neighborhoods and global will cease and fear will no longer have a stranglehold on the world.

Hope is powerful, and so is the season of spring.