The warm, healing balm

My bag included a study guide, my ipod, pens, markers, and a blanket. All week the weather has been beautiful. The sun has invaded every window of the law school, reminding us of what we're missing. But, the days were long. Classes in the morning, meetings in the afternoon, and start studying around sundown.

Today was different, though. Through a series of coincidences and others' scheduling conflicts, my afternoon was free. On the drive home, I developed the plan for the rest of the day; and, before long, I had changed clothes and packed my bag.

My favorite place on campus to soak up the sun is the baseball field. Usually I can either sit in the stands or pick a place on the hillside. Today was, by far, the warmest day we have had this year and even the wind was kind. After living here for two years, I have learned to pay attention to the forecasted temperature and the wind forecast because even though the temperature may be 70 degrees, it's going to feel like 50 if we have a 20 mph north wind whipping over the hilltops. But, today, sitting on the side of the hill overlooking the baseball field, the wind was almost calm and had a kind warmth to it.

I listened to lectures and scribbled notes in my study guide. And whenever I would start to panic about all there is to do in these last four weeks of class, I would pause, close my eyes, and turn my face up toward the sun until those panicked thoughts were gone. Sometimes I would just whisper, "God, I'm going to need your help in this, ok. In my weakness, infirmity, sickness, and imperfection, you are strong...please help me let you be strong."

These are the days when I wish time would stand still. I can appreciate spring and the renewing of the earth. Soaking in the sun today, letting it bathe my face in warmth, it seemed like I was having my own "spring" experience after a long, cold and hard winter. And how good it is to be alive and feel like living.