bare not barren

This is a water-color painting I did a while ago.

These are trees in my backyard. Right now, in the middle of winter, they are completely bare. In fact, they look barren. Touch them and they are cold. They crack in the bitter freeze of the season. Even any leaves they had are buried beneath layers of snow, concealing any evidence of life past or present.

But this doesn’t mean they are barren. Faithfully, every year when spring approaches, the mystery of Life leaps into being. The trees, gradually but surely, start showing signs of unstoppable life and fruitfulness.

I have no doubt that it will be so again this year. And very soon.

Can we learn to appreciate the winters of our lives? Can we embrace an irrational hope that the life we so long for will certainly return?

Buy a print of this original painting of mine.