The blossoming of the Sakura is a cause for celebration, because it's normally the end of the cold weather and the start of the warmer part of the year. The Sakura came a week early in 2010 which gave us hopes of warmer weather sooner, but it was not the case. April 2010 and was colder than average and we were still rugged up for most of the Sakura viewings we went to! More to come in the next few PBLOG entries.
The Sakura in Japan also has deep philosophical meaning as a reminder that beauty is only short lived, and life itself is fleeting. As I reflect on these things the following scripture comes to mind: "The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people [is] grass. (8) The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever." - Isaiah 40:7-8 (King James Version)