Spring: living forwards and backwards
The Bishop’s Ranch in full Spring. My latest painting. Full of life and promise.
“Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.”
― Søren Kierkegaard
I came across this quote a while ago and stuck it in my “food for thought folder”. Something about it rings so true. When we sit in the fresh days of new spring – living forwards – we experience it in the moment –yes- but we really understand it only by looking back, the blooming narcissus, the bright smiling daffodils, the flittering birds, the dancing young cows– remind us of what is coming– our knowledge of springs past informs our anticipation of the coming warmth and the regreening of our world. The anticipation invites a regreening of our hearts that is particular to spring. The circle of time, the renewal of the seasons year after year allows us to straddle the moving forward and the looking backwards. To experience the tingle up the spine and scalp as the new spring sun warms your back for the first time in months is about that particular moment but also about every spring you have ever known and every time you have felt that first warming, thawing, melting moment and your heart and body knows that spring is coming again- all praise to the universe- the spinning earth around our warming sun- welcome back spring thank you, thank you, thank you.
Laura Thorpe
Oh, Lisa, your painting makes me ache for spring as I look out my window — where just a week ago the Hudson River was stuck, frozen solid in the grip of an East Coast winter. But you beautifully remind me that spring awakes soon (but not soon enough) and it will be all the more magical for the longing.
lisathorpeartist
such poetry- hope spring doesn’t wait too long in NYC
carol Jones
Is this another of your incredible iPad paintings Lisa…I love it and thx for sharing.Carol
On Friday, February 19, 2016, Lisa Thorpes Mandala Challenge wrote:
> lisathorpeartist posted: ” “Life can only be understood backwards; but it > must be lived forwards.” ― Søren Kierkegaard I came across this quote a > while ago and stuck it in my “food for thought folder”. Something about it > rings so true. When we sit in the fresh days of new spring” >
chithankalai
Reminds me another quote: ” O, wind, if winter comes, can spring be far behind.”- P B Shelly in ‘Ode to the west wind. – Lovely art Lisa
lisathorpeartist
Lovely quote – thank you for sharing I will look for the whoe “ode to the west wind” poem
Molly Pannkuk
Lovely vision of spring! I wish I could be there with you, dancing with you and the cows. Thanks for creating this reminder of now/soon/someday (depending on where we live.). Your words also inspire, as always, my poetic friend.
lisathorpeartist
the poetry comes from an open heart forged lovingly by friends like you!