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I never expected that I would one day discover a place that adores the color pink so much! Their national pride is the lovely sakura, commonly known as cherry blossoms. At this time of the year, the sakura start sprouting in many parts of Japan, producing lovely shades of pink - from almost white, to super light, to baby pink, to a richer pink, to a brighter, then darker fuschia. The flowers are relatively small, and grow in bunches, as if exhibiting a collectivist rather than individualist nature.
To appreciate the sakura at their best, one has to stand at a distance and allow one's eyes to slowly move in a panoramic way, as if to gather up into a whole the many scatterings of pink, then to frame them into a lovely painting. Or, as someone described her zen-like experience to us, one can just sit very still in contemplation and drink in the beauty of the pink flowers hanging from the branches or falling softly to the ground. I was not able to personally witness this, but can imagine how heart-filling such an experience could be.
As surely as the sun rises each morning, these lovely pink sakura reappear without fail every springtime, bringing a gentle cheeriness and an enlivening feeling to all fortunate to be around when they bloom. In a world full of suffering and darkness, these sakura remind us that indeed, “hope (still) springs eternal.”
Thank you, Japan, for fondly cultivating these blossoms and sharing their beauty with all who want to enjoy them too. And most of all, thank you dearest God, for this gift of lovely pink nature at its finest!! 🌸🌸🌸
Happy Easter!
