Welcome

Today is February!! Farewell dark and dismal, January. Janus , two faced month of resolution and reflection – locked down into dark days and cold nights. Welcome February – februum – Roman month of cleansing. Washing away the languor of lockdown. Revealing signs of hope.

Today, the first of February is special in Ireland. It is the first day of Spring and also Saint Brigid’s Day: “Now it’s St Brigid’s Day and the first snowdrop/ In County Wicklow,” (Seamus Heaney, On St Brigid’s Day). Saint Brigid was a welcomer. She was renowned for her hospitality and generosity. She gave her father’s sword to a poor beggar; a friend’s store of food to strangers. She asked Bishop Mel to pray for some women and as he did so he saw the Holy Spirit fall on her and anointed her a Bishop … in the 5th century!

I think her welcoming spirit got heaven’s attention. I discover the word ‘welcome’ comes from an old English word – ‘wilcuma’. It is a noun meaning ‘a desired guest’. Oh how Spring is a desired guest! A much longed for guest. It has been a long, hard, dark, lockdown winter and I can hardly wait for the arrival of Spring.

From my kitchen window I watch the passers by with my dog Max. He has keen eyesight and loves watching too. Some days I pick him up and we look together at the empty street. Lockdown has limited the number of people out and about, but it is cheering to watch people going by, going about their lives.

For Max, he is looking for a desired guest. He gets so excited. He whines in anticipation. Maybe someone will go by? Oh the joy and barking when someone does – especially if they are walking their dog. He barks so loud they can hear him in the kitchen!

We watch the pavement. I look through our border of withered summer lavender. Searching for anyone, anything. And then I see them. Tiny lime green crocus shoots, rising up around the bare hawthorn tree where they have been buried all. You are the smallest flowers in the hedgerow, I see you. Your tiny arms outstretched to welcome the warmer air, the lighter days. Ah, little flowers, you teach me. You may be small, but your welcoming heart and generous spirit has got my attention.