In need of spring
As we pulled into the driveway of our plumber friend, Gus, he put
the pruning snips into his pocket and pulled off his glove to shake
hands. It was pleasantly warm and sunny and, from the clippings in
the wheelbarrow, we could see he had been pruning the roses, and tidying
up the front garden. With the abundance of sour sobs about his feet,
he still had a way to go.
“Floss has been into me about the garden,” he snarled, “says it
looks like no one owns the place. I have to admit, this winter I haven’t
felt like doing gardening jobs after work, or at the weekend. She
says winter makes her depressed, and she shuts down like the plants.
She now thinks it time I got things going again.”
As we chatted, I reflected on the many winters we pass through in
life. Not all physical winters, either. Many things might cloud our
outlook and contaminate our judgment. It is easy to find yourself
slowly going backward in one way or another. Struggling to keep the
family afloat financially can become taxing, as you work extra shifts
or two jobs, and still the bills come or the interest rate rises.
Overworking (sometimes without recognition or pay) erodes one’s physical
and spiritual capacity. Worry or anxiety can diminish our capacities
in a variety of areas of life.
At times, I think the state runs on the generosity and goodness
of good-hearted, energetic people. Sadly, we can find much of our
energy gone, leaving little for love, families and the things that
make life meaningful and worthwhile. There are many winters which
can chill our passions, deflect our goals and ultimately wear us down.
We all need a certain amount of sunlight to function effectively.
Recently, Gus and I were driving back to Adelaide through the Southern
Vales. It was fine and sunny. The blossoms were pushing from buds
no longer able to constrain them. It just made us glad to be there;
and we arrived home in good and brightened spirits.
We had coffee with “the girls” and Gus was helping Tom with his homework.
The whole brightness seemed to escalate and my wife and I felt refreshed
as we waved goodbye and travelled home. We both felt positive about
heading out to our own tasks and to work the next morning.
I think some of our politicians need to understand winters a little
more, too. There are suburbs where the future seems dim and with little
opportunity for personal growth and development. Threats, violence,
poverty and few opportunities for change throttle hope. Some areas
have changed little over decades, while living conditions have worsened
in others.
For some people in these areas, crime and destructive behaviour
has become a normal daily activity. This means the continuous summoning
of police resources, financial portioning and physical energies, together
with endless court hearings and applications. Consequently, the rest
of the community fails also to reach its potential and promise. Spring
needs to come to the suburbs.
The approaching pay increase can be a burst of spring for some people
and their families, as long as it improves or brightens their lives.
Sometimes, shadows of greater expectations or responsibilities can
lessen our satisfaction or hopes.
The opening of spring is a good time to review our personal relationships
and family goals, and reassess what we expect from life and hope to
achieve. Spring can be a time to resolve to be more encouraging, supportive
and caring so that we brighten the lives of the people about us and
those about whom we care. In lifes autumn it could be a deserving
epitaph.
I hope you’ve finished the pruning at your place.
