The Arrival of Spring
Once again, the colour yellow dominates the fields and uncultivated areas of Cyprus, particularly along the coast. It is the colour that heralds the arrival of spring in this region of the world.
Chrysanthemum coronarium
On a country road I usually do not frequent, this glorious golden carpet caught my eye recently. Having to get out of the car for a proper angle, I hoped the barking dogs in the nearby yard were not on the loose.
Golden carpet of crown daisies
While sunflowers do not appear to grow in Cyprus (correct me if I'm wrong) I found five or six growing opposite a church. Someone had attempted to bring a little cheer to the side of the road.
Sunflower
Giant fennel, a tall herbaceous perennial plant, also lines the roads throughout March and April before the heat of summer descends.
Giant Fennel
While the Treasure Flowers (Gazania rigens) do not disappear throughout winter, their petals revive in the spring and new blooms grow.
Treasure Flower
The Irish Rose blossoms (Aeonium arboreum) usually bloom in late winter/early spring. This is the first year I have noticed them, perhaps because my eyes were peeled for the colour yellow!
Irish Rose
And last but not least, the Bermuda Buttercup (Oxalis pres-caprae), which is difficult to photograph in the breeze because of its delicate structure.
Bermuda Buttercup
A New Season
The hue of yellow is such a bright, uplifting shade. All nature rejoices as winter leaves us and a new season begins.
Are you rejoicing in a new season of life?
Often in the Christian life, we are brought into new seasons for various purposes. Perhaps God is guiding us into new activities, discovering the creativity He has placed in us from the start. Others may experience a change of direction for deeper experiences and life lessons while God leads according to His will.
In every change, we can fully depend on God to bring us to His purpose:
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.
Proverbs 3:5-6
If you have never experienced the newness of life from God, come to Him today, confess your sin and accept the Lord as your Saviour. He died and rose again so that we might have life.
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
John 11: 25-26
The Lord promised eternal life to those who believe in Him. We will experience bodily death once on earth (if He has not returned), but the believer's spirit will live with Him forever.
After the first few steps in the Christian life, we realize that everything which really needs to be done in our souls can be done only by God. C. S Lewis
Be blessed in this new season and enjoy the beauty of God's nature all around!