As per our tradition, (hey, can a four-year old church have "tradition?!?") we celebrated with an Easter Egg Hunt for the kids, and a pot-luck brunch. Gracing the food table at the brunch was a vase full of daffodils from St. Gabriel's land, picked by vestry member Cindy Jones. As she handed them to me after as we were packing up she said, "And there are many more there... all different kinds."
Many of you may remember that last fall we went out to our land and, with the help of the G-Men, used the stones from the land to design a cross. Then we planted assorted daffodil bulbs around the the perimeter of the cross. Later, some of the G-men mulched the area to protect the newly planted bulbs. [Scenes from the October cross-making. Above: team at work. Right: finished cross] 
I couldn't wait to get out to the land and see for myself how things were looking. The trees were still pretty bare and the ground was covered with dead leafs from the previous fall. Rising from the brown surroundings were a cheerful gathering of daffodils inviting me closer.
It was beautiful. As I took pictures (with my phone) and prayed on our land, a few "God thoughts" came to mind I'd like to share. First, Planting bulbs is like a lot of what we do in our faith. You can't see from the outside of the bulb what it's going to look like. We can't see today what life will hold for tomorrow.
You just have to take what you've got, and give it to God, and trust, that in God's time, he will make it bloom.
Second, the daffodils were all different types - some white, some yellow, some single blooms, some multiple blooms, some frilly, some "classic."
We are all different as well, but when we are gathered around the cross, or gathered together to "grace" another venue, our diversity shows God's beauty.
Another thing I noticed was that all over the ground, in what seemed to me at first to be mostly dead leaves, were delicate little white flowers coming up everywhere. To me this signaled another truth of life with God. Yes, God takes what we give him, and he blesses it and gives it back to us.
But God also just gives us abundant blessings without us even asking for them. We didn't plant those little flowers, God did. God's work and our work, side by side, are beautiful.
As you observe the new life springing forth in creation this spring, may you experience new life in Jesus spring forth in your soul.
Alleluia! Christ is Risen!
The Lord is Risen Indeed! Alleluia!
