My favorite place to run is a park near home. There is a steep hill in the middle of it, and a running trail about a mile long circling the hill. Several trails go over the top of the hill. When I first get there I climb up to the top and back down. That gets my muscles warmed up. Then I run 1 ½ laps around the hill. I climb back over the top, and return to my car for water.

Yesterday spring had arrived at the park. The trees and bushes were bursting with new life. A tree at the top of the hill was covered with yellow flowers. Along the trail were trees with bright purple flowers and other trees with delicate white flowers. On the ground were bushes with pink flowers and wildflowers of all sorts of colors. The dark green of the evergreens was in stark contrast to the pale green of the newly budding leaves. It was a gorgeous day for a run.

If anyone was to ask "But which color is right?" or "Which color is best?" we would think they were crazy. You would never say that the purple flowers are superior to the white, or that the pink will take over from the yellow. The beauty is in the variety. Especially at spring time I see the hand of a very creative creator behind the variety of color and shape.

Yet ever so often I read in Heidi or Doc Bron's columns questions like "Which blood type is best?" or "Will Type A and B eventually replace Type O?" As if we could change our blood type, anyway! I enjoy the many personalities, sizes, talents, and yes, even blood types found among human beings. Each type has unique strengths, and each type has its challenges. What a dull world it would be if we were all the same. In the incredible variety of people there is evidence of intelligent design.

I hope it's spring where you are. Celebrate the joy of new life! And celebrate the unique and wonderful way you were made.