Snow on Daffodils

Earlier this week, 4 inches of snow fell on top of daffodil shoots and tulip leaves peeking up through the mud.

"Oh no! What's going to happen to my daffodils?" a friend worried.

I could say, "Don't worry." (But when has that ever stopped a worrywart?) "The crocus and daffodils and hyacinths have it all worked out. They've been growing up through snow and mud for centuries. They don't say, "Oh, no!" They "know" to slow down when it's cold and to take advantage of warm days to spread their foliage."

These late snows are called "poor man's fertilizer" because snow (and rain) capture nitrogen from the atmosphere and spread it right into the earth. Everything will be spring-greener as a result.

Sometimes our meditation is assailed by the 5 Hindrances of desire, ill-will, anxiety/worry, sleepiness/lethargy, and doubt. Simply being mindful of these obstacles as they appear builds our meditation stamina. These dark clouds can fertilize our practice.