Renewal: Welcome Spring!- Anne Bradstreet
Renewal
If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant:
if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.
Anne Bradstreet migrated from England to Massachusetts in 1630 and was the first writer from the new colonies to be published. She gained considerable prominence as a prolific poet who developed her own style of poetry, writing about life's struggles, her Puritan faith, and motherhood- she was the mother of 8 children. In 1650 her first book, The Tenth Muse Lately Sprung Up in America, was published in London and became quite popular in both England and America.
Just an editorial note: WHAT AN EXAMPLE! This woman juggled raising eight children with the challenges of the "domestic duties" of the time, and her life story does include the "taste of adversity". But Anne was unhindered by personal circumstances, or even the social and religious limitations placed on her as a Puritan and a woman; she must express herself,... create!
Makes one humbly ponder how many things seem to get in the way of our own creativity, if only momentarily. Yet, we can look to the promise of this sweet season of renewal for a fresh start. We can unite with Anne in the confidence that it will always return, to regenerate even the charred earth at our feet.
Welcome Spring!
Fires, which left charred patches of earth and blackened trees, were followed by a generous
season of rain. So we are now seeing hopeful signs of renewal here in Southern California.
If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant:
if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.
Anne Bradstreet (1612-1672)
Anne Bradstreet migrated from England to Massachusetts in 1630 and was the first writer from the new colonies to be published. She gained considerable prominence as a prolific poet who developed her own style of poetry, writing about life's struggles, her Puritan faith, and motherhood- she was the mother of 8 children. In 1650 her first book, The Tenth Muse Lately Sprung Up in America, was published in London and became quite popular in both England and America.
Just an editorial note: WHAT AN EXAMPLE! This woman juggled raising eight children with the challenges of the "domestic duties" of the time, and her life story does include the "taste of adversity". But Anne was unhindered by personal circumstances, or even the social and religious limitations placed on her as a Puritan and a woman; she must express herself,... create!
Makes one humbly ponder how many things seem to get in the way of our own creativity, if only momentarily. Yet, we can look to the promise of this sweet season of renewal for a fresh start. We can unite with Anne in the confidence that it will always return, to regenerate even the charred earth at our feet.
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