Preview of Summer!

Not the sun or summer alone, but every hour and season yields its tribute of delight.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Every good gift and every perfect present comes from heaven; it comes down from God.

James 1:17 (a) GNT

Though March should be cool and springlike, last month we had a week of record breaking warm weather. Friends invited me to go paddleboarding at Lake Tahoe and I couldn’t resist, even though it couldn’t be an all day outing. To say that it was delightful doesn’t even come close to expressing how lovely it was to spend a day in the sunshine on the lake with a friend! Perhaps even sweeter because it was such an uncommon, unexpected March pleasure.

 A few hours paddling on the lake soaking up sunshine and the fresh scent of the outdoors culminated in taking a final few moments to stretch out on the board and just “be”.  The sound of the water lapping against my board and the shoreline rocks, the warmth of the sun contrasting with the slight coolness of the air near the water, and the awareness of a dear friend nearby…all combined to create a magically tranquil and refreshing break in routine. 

As I savored the time, I thought about how it was a preview of summer. On this day, I had to get back to work and tasks at home, but soon summer would be coming where the rhythm of time with friends, enjoying hiking and water outings, would dominate many days. What a lovely preview of summer!