Page 15 - ActsCOVID-19_and_Me

Finding Inspiration in Nature
Spring arrived with grace and beauty at a time we needed it most. The grass grew thicker and greener. All over campus, plants pushed forth buds, and trees sprouted leaves. Some residents purchased plants from local nurseries to brighten their yards. Others planted gardens in the rear of their cottages. I was content to see our rosebush share a few red blossoms that brought beauty to our door. Watching plants grow and thrive reminds me that our world has a powerful urge to sustain and renew itself even through a pandemic.
The animal kingdom too participated in this celebration of life. Throughout the year, squirrels scamper in our yards and across the campus, but when the kits emerged in the spring, the level of activity increased with the energy that youth brings. I was also delighted to see rabbits venturing out, hopping in their distinctive yet casual way. Although I do not consider fluidity to be an attribute of the bunny population, it is thrilling to watch the white tail of a bunny disappear among the hedges when it searches for safety. April, who rebounded from her brief illness, enjoys sitting on the porch and tracking the animals across the lawn, especially the squirrels. I do not think she had seen rabbits before, because she seems to regard a species that hops rather than runs with suspicion.
And then there was the return of Bayleigh and Chase. I heard a neighbor wonder whether the geese would return and build a nest near the pond as they had done in previous years. Because Clinton and I had moved to the community in October and had lived here only part of a year, I had not yet discovered the importance of the time the geese spend in our community. For me, that they return to nest and to hatch their young was a wonder. The geese produced four offspring this year. The young goslings grew rapidly, and pictures of them were proudly posted on the resident portal. I was privileged to see the growing goslings as they crossed the road at the entrance of Bayleigh Chase and to see their watchful, protective parents monitor their trip across the surface. Because geese are substantial creatures, the parent presence was sufficient to stop
a car to ensure safe passage. Recently when we drove along the
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