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By Chris A. Quilpa
Guest Columnist

For the love of the season, I’d like to share with you my profound thanks to and appreciation of life, our precious gift from the Almighty God. 

With the Holy Week and the joyful Resurrection of Christ, our Lord and Savior, let’s celebrate (the season of) life with our strong and renewed faith in Him, the source of life, light, love, and hope for us all. 

Because of Him, we’re alive and well, inspired to do His will day by day, praising Him and glorifying His name! Our faith and spiritual lives are renewed, revived and reinvigorated. He is risen, and so are we! Christ’s resurrection is our resurrection, too. Truly a celebration of life, a victory from death to life! Alleluia! Thanks be to God. Happy Easter, everyone! 

“And Spring arose on the garden fair/ Like the Spirit of Love felt everywhere/ And each flower and herb on Earth’s dark breast/ Rose from the dreams on its wintry rest.” – “The Sensitive Plant by Percy Bysshe Shelley (August 4, 1792-July 8, 1822), a British writer and considered one of the major English Romantic poets.

The long-awaited Spring is here! Signs and sights of the season are everywhere…in the shopping malls (spring fashion collections are on display, with plenty of yellow and blue colors), grocery stores and supermarkets, even in the gardens and parks…

Colorful Easter eggs for children, young and old, Easter lilies you see, along with yellow daffodils, dandelions, tulips and crocus, and amazing cherry blossoms…Everywhere in the open are cute little (wild) flowers in (unmowed) lawns and birds chirping, flocking around our backyards, hopping from fence to fence, pecking something on the ground. The fields and farms, mountains and hills and valleys are covered with green grass and wildflowers, while up there, the golden sun and azure skies — all beautiful sights to appreciate and behold!

Nature is so beautiful, colorful and wonderful in spring! Thanks be to God.

Praise and glory be to God and his creation! 

I love spring. I feel so invigorated when it’s spring, honestly. It’s about time to open up our windows and doors for a while and let the fresh air in—it’s so good and healthy and relieving, isn’t it?

Once again, we’re getting more active now that the sun is shining brightly, inviting us out of our “cubicles” to see, smell, hear, touch, and appreciate and give thanks to the beauty of Nature.

Spring is the time to rise up, once again, to stretch out (and spread) that body that has been in a cocoon for months of cold, wet and snowy weather. In the outdoors, for a while (body and mind permitting), we rise up with other small creatures, doing simple strolling with our dog, having physical exercise or conditioning that stimulates our senses and faculties, and (re)establishing our relationships with neighbors or making connections with new acquaintances (who may become our prospective new friends) along the way…

With brief morning showers, then white clouds that gradually disappear, and the sun’s up there ready to rule the land, there’s no doubt in my mind that we’ll have golden, productive days ahead.

There’s that spring cleaning to be done. We have all clutter, messes around the house needing a little organizing. This is a good opportunity to get rid of some stuff, to give them away or to donate them to charity.

Of course, there’s this spring break for students and teachers who have been busy with school. I’m sure they can’t wait to spend some time off going somewhere, out of state, maybe. But while having a short break from school, they (should) continue to engage in worthwhile learning activities and experiences.

Now, to all of us poetry-lovers, I’d like to share with you my short poem, “The Cool Spring”: 

When the sun is up/ And the sky is clear/ There’s warmth all over/ There’s no more fear.// As the land turn green/ And our vision’s keen/ Everyone’s excited/ Glad and invigorated/ To welcome the cool spring.// While the sea is inviting/ To beachlovers cavorting/ We hear the sweet sounds of spring/ Welcoming the renewal/ The beauty and revival/ Of good living and loving.// We see flowers blooming/ Leaves of trees sprouting/ Birds chirping and singing/ Butterflies fluttering/ While busy bees buzzing/ Humming new life in spring!

Have fun, be safe, and enjoy the season. Happy Easter! God bless us all always.

Chris A. Quilpa, a retired U.S. Navy veteran, lives in Suffolk, Chesapeake and Portsmouth. Email him at chris.a.quilpa@gmail.com.