February 15, 2007

March 11, 2007

That's the date. If you have not already done so, mark your calendars now. At 2 a.m. that morning we will change to Daylight Savings Time. Thanks to a little-known provision of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 DST will begin on that date rather than the traditional first Sunday in April.
Perhaps you have read about concerns over our computer and software calendars getting updated. I'm not sure if those are major issues or not. Either way, that is not the subject for today. I write simply to celebrate with you the early arrival of DST. For those of us who love the outdoors, the first day of DST is literally better than Christmas. One more hour at the end of the day for outdoor activities is the best gift ever. I have waited for this day for a long time, and now it's almost here!

Here is what I have learned through the years about the rhythms of life. The short days and long nights of winter have sharpened my appreciation of spring. The early nightfall of standard time has caused me to appreciate even more the extra daylight of Daylight Savings Time. The stormy days of life have taught me how to relish even more the splendor of sunny days. The down times of life have led me to a greater celebration of those times when my cup overflows with joy. The inevitability of anxious moments has deepened the sweet pleasure of peaceful times.

As I grow older the Christian Calendar makes more and more sense to me. It would not be a truthful statement for me to say that the season of Lent is my favorite season of the Christian year. It is not. But without Lent the joy of Easter would be shortchanged, and without the Cross we would not fully understand the power of Resurrection.

Somehow, as I grow older, it all makes sense. When you finally decide to "buy into life" you understand that all the seasons are important.