R & R

It is April, and it’s spring. It still doesn’t feel very springy here in the Midwest, but we have moments of hope. Warmer days. Sunshine. A few crocuses peeking at the sun.

Yes, spring is here. Not in full force. But it is definitely making its presence felt.

And I, for one, am grateful.

Here in the Barefoot Hippie household spring signals many things. It is the end of many things and the beginning of many others. It is a time of reflection and refreshment. After the busyness of the fall and winter, spring is the time to slow down, and dig in. It is a time for evaluation and change…

It is our time to retreat, rest, reflect, recover and be refreshed.

–Home: spring is projecting time. It is the time to shore up things that have been neglected, and make new things.

It is the time for my sewing machine to makes its annual appearance. I usually will sew the girls a new dress or two, and often I make something for our home. This year’s sewing projects will include new curtains for our dining room and small bathroom.

Also, something about spring speaks paint to me. I get the urge to haul out the old cans of paint, and touch up walls, or buy a whole new color and go at a room. This year’s painting project is my living room. Ceiling, walls, and trim. The whole schmo.

Of course, cleaning and spring are synonymous too. Those rooms that don’t get a fresh coat of paint generally need a wipe down. Walls, and trim. Open those windows, and shine them up. Remove the accumulated gunk of the winter. Let out the stale air, and let in the crisp spring breezes.

Though I don’t have a green thumb, I do garden. I grow vegetables and herbs in the summer, and I have a few flower gardens on auto. I worked on my front yard a lot last spring, but I am planning a few more changes to encourage it along. Sunny lilies, and armfuls of colorful wildflowers are what I am dreaming of.

–Training: the Barefoot Hippie Couple are in spring training. We are running our little hearts out. Spring is the time to up the miles in preparation for long spring, summer and fall races. In the winter we run far less miles. It is cold and slippery. But, once the calendar turns to March, our shoes make a regular appearance.

We are on our spring running schedule of M-T-TH-S. A short (3-4 miles) run on Monday, mid-length (6-7 miles) on Tuesday and Thursday, and longer and longer (11 plus miles) runs on Saturdays. It is a lot of miles.

This may seem counter to the rest, retreat, recover, reflect and refreshment plan, but let me tell you, it’s not. The way I see it, it is valuable time investing in our relationship. Obviously health-wise.

It is also wonderful time to talk. Hours (over 4) every week. Uninterrupted except by heavy breathing. It brings us closer together. We have opportunity to share out heart. Our joys and our concerns.

Plus, we get to see amazing moonscapes and sun rises. God’s artistry.

–Ministry: come April, our school year ministries are winding down. Bible clubs and Bible studies all take a summer break. Our summer ministries tend to be less regular. Not every week, but often week-long.

Spring is the time we have traditionally focused on coming up with new curriculum. In our children’s ministries we generally start a new subject in the early summer, and then adapt it for all the VBS and conferences that we do for the next year.

So, spring is a time to pray. What does God want us to teach this year? Also, where does He want us to minister over the next year? Do we recommit to the same ministries we did this year, or not? It is a time to seek God for direction.

It is a time to focus on being fed. We have given and given in ministry all year. Spring is the time to let the Word of God wash over us in comfort and challenges. Spring is the time to learn. It is a “teach me, Lord, so I can teach” time.

Spring is the time that I revel in the promise, “behold, I make all things new.” (Revelation 21:5)