Life is a series of necessary cycles where hardship is always balanced by renewal. Just as winter must precede spring, our "tragic" moments are merely one half of a larger, more beautiful story. Negative experiences (winter, crucifixion, tragedy) are not ends in themselves; they are the prerequisites for positive outcomes (spring, resurrection, fulfillment).  The author encourages "ungrudging patience." By maintaining a calm, watchful perspective, we can endure difficult times knowing that the "turn" toward something better is inevitable. From the perspective of the soul, the ups and downs of human life—the "long and short days"—are seen as fleeting experiences intended to "renew and refresh" our deeper selves rather than break us. Don't be discouraged by current tragedies; they are temporary phases in a natural cycle that will eventually lead to growth and amazement.