For the vast majority of my life, the spring season consisted of about two weeks of rapid change.  This change typically occurred before spring “officially” began, based on the calendar.  Further, the changes of spring occurred simultaneously; the Bradford pears blossomed into their bright white flowery display, all while the azaleas exploded with color, all while the leaves of the trees and the grass began to grow and deliver the lush, green backdrop we see for most of the year.  All of this seemed to happen overnight.

I find myself thinking of this today because spring here in Georgia runs a little differently to the way I am accustomed to.  Spring is a true season here…a true process.  The first signs are the Bradford pears, the dogwoods, the Japanese tulip trees, and the cherry trees.  Then, we start to see the bulbs blooming — the daffodils, the tulips, and the irises.  Then, the leaves start growing back on the trees; people are out mowing the grass again.  Leaves form on plants that had been cut back to the ground for the winter — hydrangeas, day lilies, and hosta plants grow from seemingly nothing into a lush green plant in what seems like just a few days.  The grand conclusion of this spring bloom, at least at our house, is the explosion of the knockout roses and azaleas in our front yard. 

Every day, new buds appear.  Every day, a few of the buds open into flowers.  It seems as though, any second now, all of those buds will open and the front of our house will be covered in pink, white and red flowers.  But it hasn’t happened…at least not yet.  It will, though.  And it will be beautiful.

New life is a process.  New growth is a process.  We didn’t just get to where we are “in the blink of an eye.”  We have been formed, slowly nurtured, slowly watched, and slowly pushed in the right direction for our entire lives – by God, by those people in our lives that we are so thankful for. 

These people have seen us, right on the verge of something beautiful, thinking “any second now, he/she is going to blossom, and it is going to be beautiful.”  Every step of the way is important.  Every person we meet is important.  Every second of life and growth before we blossom is important. 

Who has nurtured us, watched over us, and taught us 
Where in our lives are we on the verge of something beautiful?

— Chris Eldredge

Becky Eldredge

Becky is an Ignatian-trained spiritual director, retreat facilitator, and writer. She is the author of the Busy Lives and Restless Souls (March 2017, Loyola Press) and The Inner Chapel (April 2020, Loyola Press). She helps others create space to connect faith and everyday life through facilitating retreats and days of reflection, through writing, and through spiritual direction. With nearly twenty years of ministry experience within the Catholic Church, Becky seeks to help others discover God at work in the every day moments of people’s lives by utilizing St. Ignatius’ Spiritual Exercises and the many gifts that our Catholic faith and Ignatian Spirituality provide.