It was one of the Ancients (I cannot remember which) who in the depth of despair at the absurdity of all things was captivated by the beauty of the first dandelion in Spring! It led him to place his faith in a Creator God over against the pantheon of gods being worshipped at that time.
Walking through the 14 acres, normally the driest field on the farm and squelching across grass that felt like a sponge, I came across the humble dandelion shining brightly in the wet. I know it is a poor substitute for a rainbow but it is a portent of growth to come.

Much ink has been spilt recently describing the plight of farmers trying to cope in the longest, wettest, stormiest winter in our lifetime. It has left a trail of blown timber, broken fences and flattened hedges that will take some time to repair. Constant rain and poor drying conditions have taken a severe toll of the land. But it is the stock that have suffered most. The sheep in the front field normally get plenty to eat but there is little or no growth of grass. There is normally a bit of mud but this year the ground is so slippery that it is difficult to walk across it. The ewes tend to get a little dirty but now even the lambs, usually white, could do with a wash!

It is not all that unusual to have cattle in sheds on the 7th April although a few may have been let out by this time to sample the fresh grass but not this year. With the water table literally at grass roots their hooves would destroy the vegetation mat and retard any grass growth that had occurred. This puts pressure on the remaining fodder and creates major difficulties in farms where it has all been eaten. To ease the situation fodder is being imported from the UK and the Continent and the government is assisting with its distribution.
Most of the calves are now born and these have increased pressure on shed capacity. There is also a bedding problem as the straw used for that purpose has been served up as food.
All in all, it’s a difficult time to be a farmer in Ireland!
However today we had a taste of spring sunshine. Metaphorically its perhaps the time for Noah to put out the dove (Genesis Chapter 8 verses 10/11).

The view in the garden is somewhat brighter. Primroses with their shining yellow faces have spread themselves in the rockery and the heaths have put on a show of purple outside the kitchen window. The faithful daffodils are again brightening up the farm road and the Blue Tits are investigating the nest boxes on the Scots pine. Just a few moments ago I watched a Tree Creeper poking his long curved bill into the bark of a Poplar tree so the insect world must be alive and available! All are harbingers of Spring – and we complain because they are a little late!

Severe weather has long been considered to be connected to the judgement of God. The residual guilt in our nature prompts such conclusions. But the blessings and benefits of God are not related to our behaviour but come to us by his grace. God is in no doubt regarding our sinfulness “every inclination of his heart is evil from childhood” (verse 21) but this knowledge does not curtail his promises. Amongst these are this promise out of his providence “As long as the earth endured, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease” (verse 22).
And promises out of his redeeming love in Jesus “For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good” (Titus Chapter 2 verses 11/14).
This salvation is from God who does not change his mind. St James writes “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us (new) birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of all he created.” (Chapter 2 verse 17/18).