Forsythia yellow

Today was clergy Quiet Day at Morton Arboretum.  It was a gift and a blessing, from people present, to worship, to time spent in quiet, looking out at trees in the rain.  It was lovely to be in a place where little needed to be said.  Indeed, there were many hugs exchanged, and fewer words.  A good way to spend the Tuesday in Holy Week.  

For whatever reason, I am now realizing forsythia yellow, noticing it everywhere.  It seems once a deficit has been noticed, God plants it everywhere.  It is a good reminder, this yellow on a gray rainy day.  It is a reminder of joy.  It rains in my heart.

Being driven to Quiet Day

It was all forsythia:

Roadsides

Yards

Patches

Whole bright yellow

Swatches,

Yellow like I*d never seen.

Years ago I had bad memories

Of aqua.

Aqua was redeemed,

Returned to me in a dream of picking

Aqua flowers.

I held them in open hands

Let the petals sift through my fingers.

After that I saw aqua everywhere.

It had never occurred to me

Certain colors could be redeemed.

The spoken word this morning offered:

Joy reigns in my heart.

It became:

Joy rains in my heart.

Today forsythia yellow has been given back.

Joy rains.

I have received it

Hold it in open hands

Watch it permeate the landscape.

Yellow is everywhere

Bright in the rain

Yellow forsythia joy

Rains in my heart,

Redeemed.