by Sr. Noeleen Mooney MMM    Ireland    07.02.2022

On 21st January this year, the first daffodil, long a long line of shrubs outside our chapel in Beechgrove, Drogheda, burst into bloom.
In retrospect, since I returned to live in Ireland six years ago, this has been a pattern.
At first I was annoyed. It didn’t fit with “my” idea of daffodils. They should be for Easter!
Of course that was before I realised that climate change and its effects has crept into our small island too. I am a slow learner.

I had lived through the shortened rainy seasons in East Africa, which led to shortened growth seasons, poor harvests and resulted in hunger for many.
Seeing the daffodils now causes me to reflect on the resilience of nature. The daffodil bulbs had been quietly waiting under the soil. No snow, little frost to speak of, higher temperatures – all signals to them to stab through the soil, begin to grow and keep on growing until their glorious yellow blooms burst forth.
Is there a learning for me in all this? For sure. The long days of Covid restrictions are hopefully, though carefully, coming to an end. The days when we have been confined, like daffodil bulbs under the soil.
With the brightening days, we too can bloom again. With a smile, reaching out in all the ways we can, we can enrich those whose lives we touch and share. Long may it continue.