March 2026 • Spring Spring is Speaking and Fulfillment in Finishing
Dear Reader,
A lovely greening March to you, my friend! I’ve been delighted to spot the first henbit blooming, along with some sunny dandelions, and to hear the first glorious chorus of frogs in the evening. The season is indeed turning!
In this month’s edition of Notes, you’ll find:
A nature reflection from beneath the backyard maple, noticing the quiet signals that spring is beginning to stir.
An art reflection from the studio about the deep satisfaction—and fulfillment—that comes from finishing a piece of work after patiently staying with the process.
A glimpse of new artwork inspired by this season of awakening.
As spring begins to unfold and new life is called forth, I wish for you days steeped in the celebration of the senses—taking in the sights, sounds, and fresh scents of the season. And through both struggles and joys, may you discover the simple, deep fulfillment that comes from giving your time, effort, and heart to the work before you.
💛
A close-up of henbit...soon to be carpeting farmland fields and hillsides!
Notes from Nature: Spring is Speaking
Spring has not yet technically arrived, but the warmer air and bright sun were inviting me outdoors—to take a break from being inside. I found myself standing beneath our silver maple in the backyard. Intent on taking in the details around me, I gazed upward and saw that the maple’s leaf buds had plumped up considerably. Nearby, chirping robins—who seemed to have magically multiplied in number—were busily scouring the yard for worms.
The day before had been one of those unseasonably warm winter-spring days, reaching 75°F. The warmth had clearly stirred something. Subtle, quiet shifts were underway, signaling that the full seasonal change was well on its way.
And there I was—getting to witness it.
I was deeply moved by the intimate relationship between all of the natural world. With the lengthening of days and the increased warmth of the sun speaking out, the maple was clearly listening—its response already underway, directing energy toward the growth of spring leaves. The robins too, no doubt, anticipating the exact right time to begin preparing nests in which to raise new families.
Surely the grass, the rabbits, the squirrels—all the rest of God's creation—were listening too, each ready to respond in their own right time. So many dramatic changes on the horizon, yet how softly, subtly, gently they begin.
What a gift—this capacity to sense and learn the language being spoken all around me! A beautiful, unending conversation that I'm invited into: speaking, listening, responding. Nature shows me the way of quiet attentiveness—and how to respond confidently to the light and warmth of God. The more time I spend in nature, the more I tune my ear to God's voice speaking through it.
I'm grateful for the gift of nature's faithfulness, and most especially for the loving God who created it all.
My friend, step outside and enter the grand conversation already underway.
Take a moment for some nature gazing with this short video of a spring sunrise, while the birds sing and the morning clouds drift across the sky.
Nature is one of the greatest gifts in my life — a steady source of peace, wonder, and joy. If you haven't already, let me know if spending more intentional time in nature speaks to your heart.
There is something deeply satisfying about finishing a piece of artwork. Whether it’s a painting, a drawing, or a small craft project, completing it almost always leaves me feeling proud. A feeling of yes… something good happened here. Time, attention, and energy were gathered together and directed toward making something that literally did not exist before.
When I was younger, I certainly romanticized what creating as an artist looked like. I imagined it as a kind of magical unfolding—creativity flowing easily, inspiration and confident knowing guiding every step, and then voila! A beautiful piece simply brought into being.
But the reality, of course, is quite different.
Every piece of art has its own journey. There are moments when things flow beautifully—but there are just as many moments of hesitation, adjustment, and problem-solving. Creating art is a silent conversation between the head and the heart. Sometimes it looks awkward and something needs to be fixed. Sometimes a technique doesn't work the way you hoped. And sometimes you reach a point where you’re not sure how to move forward at all.
And then other times a single mark unexpectedly changes everything. The piece suddenly comes alive in a new way.
Creating art asks for patience and practice. It asks for attention and an openness of heart to follow your gut and try new things. It asks for courage and consideration, and for us to keep returning to work through the awkward places and uncertain moments.
When we give ourselves fully to something—our time, our effort, our heart—even if the result isn’t perfect, there is still a deep satisfaction in knowing we showed up and did the work. For me, that is one of life’s simplest and most reliable sources of fulfillment.
And more and more, I’ve come to see this as part of God’s invitation to us. Not perfection. Not an easy path. But the sincere offering of our heart and our effort. The rest, we simply entrust to Him.
Above you'll see details of some recently finished journals I painted, and below a piece that has been a long time in the making (see close-up details here).
Recently finished painting, The Three Graces
Spring greetings to all my new and returning Friends of the Bower.
Each month, I write the names of new readers and place them in the little prayer jar on my desk—a reminder of this growing circle and of each of you I hold in prayer.
May your days be filled with lasting peace, joy, and beauty!
Did something strike you from this month's Notes? Did you have a special encounter with beauty? I'd love to hear about it—just hit reply.
Notes from the Bower is published the second Wednesday of each month. The next editionis scheduled to arrive in your inbox April 8th. I’m looking forward to meeting you here again. Until then, wishing you much peace, joy, and beauty!
