The Perfect Storm
You can tell
a lot about a culture in how language is used.
For example, nowadays the term “perfect storm” is used to describe an
extreme negative situation that arose out of a series of contributing
factors. Is it possible to use the term
to describe a pleasant outcome from a series of contributing factors? We seem to be less open today to seeing a
wider spectrum, so it may be challenging, but I think not impossible.
This spring
has been drier than usual. That in
itself seems unusual because the last few years have seen above average
moisture – both rain and snow. However,
this winter was noticeably mild and snowfall was noticeably light. We really didn’t have a single snow “storm”
this winter. Some people were just fine
with that. As someone who only got in
one day of cross-country skiing, I would like to have seen things a bit
whiter. Since snowmelt the dry has
continued. The lack of flooded farm
fields, along with warm temperatures I am sure contributed to a very short stay
for the tundra swans in March.
I have been
keeping a close eye on the woods at the end of our road for wild flowers but
cooler temps, gray skies and lack of rain didn’t help. But everything changed this week. While the lead/gray skies continued pressing
down on our spirits they actually produced some much-needed moisture. We had a loud and flashy thunderstorm the
other night that pounded down long and hard.
And then we had some additional rain, albeit softer after that. Then after morning showers on Monday, the sun
popped out just after lunch.
After an
hour of sunshine, I went for an afternoon walk.
In about 15 minutes of walking our road where it borders the woods, I
saw wood anemones, trout lilies, bloodroots, hepaticas, and marsh marigolds (or
as my dairy farm raised wife prefers – cowslips) all in bloom with emerging
mayapples also in abundance. The
combination of right temps, a fertile forest floor, some rain and afternoon
sunshine that got to the forest floor because the trees haven’t leafed out yet,
all produced a perfect storm of wildflowers.
I also like to think that someone looking to enjoy the flowers also
helped coax the blooms, but I don’t think science can measure that.
It's a good
reminder that, in nature at least, it always takes multiple conditions all
coming together to produce something worth noting. Sometimes if we are open to it the perfect
storm is quite pleasant.
His Peace
<><
Deacon Dan
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