“Gather ye rosebuds while ye may,
Old Time is still a-flying;
And this same flower that smiles today
Tomorrow will be dying”
—Robert Herrick, 1648
I learned this week that we are in peak bloom season for cherry blossoms. The last week of March and the first week of April, depending on weather conditions, are typically prime time to enjoy cherry blossoms. Our only challenge is that some of the best places to see them are Tokyo and Kyoto (Japan), Seoul (Korea), Washington D.C., New York (Central Park), Paris (France), and Vancouver (Canada). Roadtrip anyone?
Cherry blossoms typically last only a week or two, but this varies depending on the weather. Cool, dry, and non-windy weather can extend the bloom, while rain, wind, and storms can shorten it. The spectacular brevity of this season is not unlike peak viewing season for fall foliage, known as “leaf peeping” in the Northeast United States.
In Japan, Hanami, which means “flower viewing,”, is the traditional custom of enjoying the transient beauty of flowers and has been around since the 8th century! Hanami consists of outdoor parties beneath the cherry blossoms, both in daytime and at night. Cherry blossoms symbolize the embodiment of both beauty and mortality. As the advent of spring brings the promise of new life, the blooming of cherry blossoms brings a sense of vibrancy and vitality. But their short lifespan also brings a reminder that life is fleeting. Thus, the cherry blossom is a symbol of both life and death, beauty and violence.
I love the duality of the cherry blossom: that something so beautiful must be cherished and celebrated because it is so fleeting in nature. The cherry blossom can serve as a lovely memento mori, reminding us that we will die, and thus inciting us to savor, appreciate, and take delight in the gift of each day. Psalm 90:12 anticipated such insights thousands of years ago: “So teach us to count our days that we may gain a wise heart.” The fact that we have a limited number of days makes them that much more precious.
While this may sound morbid, in reality, any memento mori can serve as a prompt to help us be fully present, to appreciate what we often take for granted, to soak in life’s gifts while they last, to enjoy our children before they grow up, and to savor time with loved ones. So if you happen to see a cherry blossom in bloom this next week, take a moment to see, smell, touch, and listen. Because the following week may be too late!
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