Springing-Time

​Because my last blog post was slightly negative, I decided that I am going to focus on something good, something positive, something that will stir the hope in the heart. We all need it, right? What stirs hope more than life? What stirs hope more than springtime after winter?

Well first, a bit of history. Though it’s a little outside the topic, I thought it was interesting.
 
Spring was once called Lent, which was derived from the Latin word lencten meaning spring. Makes sense, I know. Eventually, however, it became known as springing-time in the 14th century. It was the time when the plants were springing up. Again, makes sense. Then over the next two to three centuries it was shortened to spring-time, and then to just spring.

As we have crossed a threshold and are now nearing the middle of winter, the expectation of springing-time, of hope, has entered the bloodstream. On those brief warmer days, you can even smell it. Though I love the snow and how the sun gleams off its surface, I do also enjoy the warmth and greenery of spring and summer.

What stirred these thoughts? I’ll tell you.
 
As my family and I were driving to Old Forge this past weekend (just before a snowstorm hit), we drove past Whetstone Gulf, one of the great New York State parks situated on the outskirts of the Adirondacks. This past year, my family and I camped there several times and it now has become one of our favorite pastimes. 

​There is something primal in it, something that harkens back to a lost time.

​I love waking up and smelling the early morning air in the woods. Much to my surprise, my children love it just as much.
 
They love to hike the ridge that lines the gulf, which when seen from the peak, leaves those who are frightened of heights a bit wobbly in the knees. 

The bottom is down there behind the trees.

​They also love to swim in the cool water that flows through the park, which I must admit is bit cool for me. 

They love to get ice cream from the gatehouse. They love to ride their bikes around the campground. They love to eat over an open fire.

​Do you see the trend? They love…
 
And I love that we get to spend time together as a family away from the modern world (for the most part).
 
So, as we wait in expectation for springing time to return, we wait in hope that another summer will begin with those same words: They love…
 
If I can begin a sentence with that, it is a sentence worth writing.