Today is the first day of Spring in the Western Hemisphere. I am still in awe witnessing the yearly miracle of nature's rebirth and revival. It is a reminder that we too have this capacity within us. Even in the midst of a cold, bleak time in our lives, we have powerful and beautiful possibilities within us waiting to flower in the light of the rising sun. A fresh breeze of hope will refresh us as we tune into the deepest longing of our hearts.

We may ask: What purpose calls to me now?
What is my truest hope at this season of my life?
What do I need to shed or heal in order to receive the Grace that is my destiny?

The words of Albert Einstein come to mind: "I want to know God's thoughts. The rest are details."

What is the Divine plan for me and how am I meant to find my place within it?

I remember a sign at an EST type personal transformation retreat, which got larger and larger each day. "Tell the truth. Do it now." To me, being deeply truthful with ourselves about what (and who) is life-giving to us (or not) is the foundation of the discernment process. For me, an essential gardening tool is my journal and pen. I write the questions prayerfully, and then allow the answers to come in their own time. One of my sister-friends finds her garden a place of awakening. I think of it as Goddening. Another friend needs to be carving something, and his truth takes shape before him.

This process of reinventing ourselves every now and then doesn't mean our lives will necessarily change drastically. Even small measures of change in our habits or a gentle shift in our spirit can make all the difference. The great German poet and writer, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe wrote:

Do you wish to roam farther and farther?
See the good that lies so near.
Just learn how to capture your luck,
for your luck is always there.

It is also true that as an unknown but often quoted author once said, "If we fail to plan, we plan to fail." Once our truth becomes clear to us, we need to be purposeful. Thoughts are lonely without action. They evaporate easily. Make a plan, set goals for 90 Days. Make a visual of it and post it in front of you. Identify your priorities. Each day, put your first passion first, as A Pace of Grace recommends. It is your most productive activity. It acts like the prow of a ship plowing through the water and in its wake everything else flows.

Another quote from Goethe reminds us that we are not alone as we seek to spring forward toward our true and lovely life:

The moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to one that would never otherwise have occurred…whatever you can do, or dream you can…begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.

Commitment involves diligence. Act. Move. And the universe will reveal its amazing magic. So dig in, prepare the ground, plant the seeds of your own creative design, and watch trustingly for signs of growth. Meanwhile water with your joy!