02.23.2026 | Monday in Lent

​First Signs of Spring
 
The first signs of spring have arrived here in the Garden. Our earliest crocus have lifted their tiny heads through the cold earth, and once again grace has revealed itself in the smallest, quietest way.
 
The prophet Isaiah reminds us, “The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus.”
 
This little flower carries a message all its own. It speaks of hope, renewal, and resilience — a gentle nudge toward inner guidance and spiritual growth. The crocus roots us in the natural rhythms of life, reminding us that challenges are part of the cycle and that newness is always on its way.
 
In its delicate beauty, the crocus invites us to lean closer to creation and to our own unfolding path. It cheers us on with its quiet assurance of strength, transformation, and the promise that life is rising again.
 
To paraphrase the prophet Isaiah:  go in the peace of the One who makes all things new, the God who whispers, “See, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth — even here, even now.”