Although Toronto is a city of parks, extensive one’s like High Park, and “parkettes” like the one behind the Bathurst subway station, my favourite is one that I visit twice a day, Queen’s Park.  As I walk back and forth from my office at Regis College, I have the pleasure of seeing the park in all seasons. 

            Each season has its charms:  the lush green of the trees, lawns and flowers in Summer, the bright leaves of Autumn, and the shadowy snowfields of Winter.  My favourite season in the park is Spring when it turns more freshly green each day, and the gardens sprout the brightest flowers. 

            My favourite flower bed this Spring was at its western entrance at Howland Street.  The gardeners had planted a hundred tulips bulbs that sprouted several inches each day.  The flowers soon opened bright yellow, but day by day their colour changed to golden and finally to a rich orange.

            As I walk to the centre of the park in the gradually growing misty light, I have a vista through the ancient oak trees of the Victorian buildings that house the Toronto School of Theology, the Province Curia and, just at the edge, Regis College.  I can easily imagine earlier times when these were private residences, and the park provided a quiet place for early morning family thought and contemplation.

            I exit the park at the east entrance at St. Joseph Street.  Along this path is a huge tree – I don’t know what species – but its white and venerable bark provides a mosaic with rich patterns for contemplation.  How many winter frosts and ice storms has it weathered?  How has its lines and blotches come about? 

In my short walks through Queen’s Park, as I pray about the coming day or reflect on the adventures it has offered, I do not find it difficult to “see God in all things” in the beauty and surprising tranquility of this tiny reminder of God’s creation.  Praise be!

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Photos courtesy of Joe Schner, SJ