Spring is here.

We were in the basement under tornado warning last night, but by morning the storm was over, the sky was clear, and the season had changed.

I stopped at the park for a few minutes this evening before the sun went down. The paths were dry. The first flowers were up and the air smelled like earth and pine needles. It was warm, too warm for me, because I’d come in a coat. I was the only person there wearing one — almost everyone else was in shorts.

Alabama is ready for spring. Alabama lives ready for sunshine.

I’ve been reading about resurrection lately, about how the life of a Christian is the future life brought into the present. It’s a life marked by love, and love is life-giving as if there’s nothing lost and nothing to lose, as if no one has hurt us or can hurt us, as if nothing can touch us. Love is the signpost of life on the way.

So maybe right now we’re riding out the storm, together, waiting for the worst to pass. But when it’s over everything will be clear and the season will have changed. The paths will be ready, the flowers will be up, and the air will be clean and good.

Ready for spring. Ready for sunshine. And let’s be dressed for it.