As we move into mid-April here in the North Country, sunshine and warmer weather have finally returned. During the month of April, we gain somewhere between 60–80 minutes of daylight.

Against all expectations, my Local Nine, the Minnesota Twins, have the best record in the American League. The combination of more light, warmer weather, and good baseball has put a spring in my step that I realize has not been there for a long time.

In winter, I drive to work in the dark, return home in the dark, and spend the day in artificial half-light. Between the preponderance of darkness, the ICE surge here, and my brother’s death, it was an especially bleak winter.

This week, Trump attacked Pope Leo and posted a picture of himself as Jesus. After enormous backlash, he refused to apologize to the Pope but did take down the photo. He claimed it was not supposed to be him as Jesus, but him as a doctor—just another lie from the serial liar. Has there ever been a better prototype for the concept of the Antichrist?

Spring brings hope for the winter-weary and the light-starved.

Easter brings hope to those who thirst for justice, peace, and truth.

On Monday evening after work, Sue and I went for our usual walk in the park next to our townhome. It has a lake and a number of very nice baseball and softball fields. Walking that evening, we came across the first baseball game of the year— as sure a sign of spring as any I know.