[Seasons: Spring VII]
The winter solstice is the longest night of the year. After midnight, the darkness begins to shorten and the light of day lengthens. It’s barely noticeable until somewhere in February or early March. By the spring equinox, March 20 or 21, the sun sets measurably later and rises before most people are up for work.
Spring is marked by more natural light and consequently less artificial light. Car rides on the way home from soccer practice don't need headlights. Morning and evening chores on the farm don’t require headlamps. And the motion light in the barn rarely illuminates, as the animals are tucked in before dark.
Life’s springs are marked by more natural light too. We work hard to illumine our surroundings in other seasons, but when spring is upon us, very little effort is required to see what’s before us. We can measure the springs of life by artificial light sources less.
Consider for a moment the “artificial light” many religious institutions offer. Clearly many that need that illumination aren’t truly experiencing the light of spring.
