The Meaning of Spring

I think that spring is my favorite season. Summer is too hot, and there are sooo many people in town vacationing. Fall is beautiful, but there are all those leaves to rake, and it heralds the coming of winter, but there is ice and snow and treacherous roads to navigate. Spring, on the other hand, heralds a time of new beginnings, renewal, and rebirth. There is a transition from the cold of winter to the warmth of

Ellen Taylor

summer. There is an awakening of nature. It is a season of hope and growth, as plants and animals come back to life after a period of dormancy. Besides all these obvious physical reasons to love spring, two other things make it very special to me.

First, this is a time we honor and reflect on the life of our Savior. It was over two thousand years ago when Christ walked the earth, and we are still in awe of his love, patience, and sacrifice. This season starts with Lent, which is the 40 days we observe before Easter, where we draw closer to God through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Maundy Thursday commemorates the Last Supper, where Jesus shared a meal with his apostles before His death. Good Friday commemorates the crucifixion and death of Jesus. Holy Saturday is the time Jesus laid in his tomb before His resurrection. Perhaps most important is Easter morning when Christ’s resurrection was confirmed. All of these things are undoubtedly familiar to you, but I find it helpful to review and understand their meanings each year.
 
The second thing that makes this spring season special to me involves the Gonzaga Men’s Basketball Team. Historically, I have never been interested in sports. I always celebrate the Super Bowl with my friends, primarily to socialize. Baseball is incredibly boring. When my sister was still alive, I used to try to watch games with her as she was a huge fan. The last game we watched together went into 14 innings before I politely excused myself. So, considering my aversion to sports in general, my story about the Zags is both funny and memorable.
 
I attended Gonzaga many years ago to get my degree as a Nurse Practitioner. Though a lot of the courses were done remotely (course materials delivered by UPS – online learning was not what it is today), a couple of times a week I had to drive to Spokane and attend lectures and labs in person. One day, after completing my classes, I walked out to my car and was surprised to see that I had a flat tire. I had never changed a tire in my life, so I wasn’t sure what to do. After grabbing the spare, I was crouching down inspecting the tire when I noticed two enormous track shoes about a foot away from me. As I looked up, I saw that they were attached to an extremely tall young man who looked concerned. He offered to change the tire and told me where to go to get the damaged one repaired. Once he completed the job, we chatted for a while. I found out that he was also a student at Gonzaga and was on the basketball team. He talked about his passion for the game, his admiration for his fellow players and his coach, Mark Few.
 
We also talked about the fact that Gonzaga was a faith-based school. It was founded in 1887 by Roman Catholic (Jesuit) priests. The university's mission and values are rooted in Jesuit principles emphasizing education of the whole person, leadership, and service to others. This kind, considerate, and talented young man was a lifesaver for me that day and was demonstrating the values of his school as he helped me. His name was Casey Calvary. He was 6’8” tall!!!I promised him I would start following his team and praying for their success. I am proud to say that I have kept my word. So, when it’s March Madness time, it lifts my spirits to think of Casey and know that spring is on its way!

​ “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life".  John 3:16
 
“Praise be to God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade”. 1 Peter 1:3-4

​In His Name, Ellen