In his poem, "The Wasteland," T.S. Eliot called April the cruelest month. It is a month of such high hope and expectations of spring, yet it seems the heartless Earth Mother tests our resolve with blowing snow, cold rains, gusty winds, and dreary cloudy days. But spring will come. it always does. But it will be on the Earth Mother's schedule, not ours. Until then we need to be mindful of the simple gifts of each day's journey and like the bluejay, wait patiently, be tolerant, and in our hearts find calm endurance.