March 21 – Springtime Wakeup

The 1,000-foot Mesabi Miner gets help from tugs as she breaks free from months of winter layup. After weeks of stillness, she moves again—steel against ice, power against resistance—carving a path through Duluth Harbor.

When a fully loaded freighter like the Mesabi Miner passes beneath the Aerial Lift Bridge, more than 21 million gallons of water are displaced—nearly 400,000 bathtubs. The harbor doesn’t ignore her presence. It responds. Water rises and falls—ice shifts. Everything adjusts to movement.

The return of the big ships is a sure sign that spring has arrived along Lake Superior. Throughout the layup, there has been maintenance, renewal, and preparation. The vessels are now ready for a fresh start. The shipping season begins again, reminding us that waiting seasons are not wasted—they prepare us for what comes next.

The seasons MARCH on, and so do our days. Time does not pause, even when we do.

“So teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” — Psalm 90:12

Enjoy today. It is a fresh start, and there will never be another quite like it.