Yes, that’s right, I am going to blog about the weather. Tis’ true it is a sorry topic to choose. 1. it’s impersonal. 2. it has been blogged about excessively.
However, I don’t really mind. For one thing, I prefer to maintain some ‘impersonality’ on this blog. After all, I think many of my readers are people whom I have never seen and who will probably never read my blog again. (I seem to somehow get on all these random link lists) A blog is very different from a journal. The latter you can shred or destroy if desired, the former tends to stick around in cyberspace. And, I really enjoy snow! So, here we are again.
Today, it snowed. Not that icky iced over storm that we have endured the last week. Which brought back childhood memories of the ‘ice storm of ‘92′. (Or was it ‘91?) Anyway, that storm involved power outs, and no school for several days. Every kids dream come true! Shoot, what is not to love about freedom and ice that defines each blade of grass?! Of course the storm of the past week was not quite on that level. (No school cancellations, so sad…) However, it was fun to see every tree covered in aproximately 3mm of ice. But, extreme caution was needed on sidewalks, and on roads, as Missouri snow removal leaves much to be desired.
I took quite a plunge a week ago. I think I was in shock for several hours, and everything seemed fine, but by the end of that day I felt as if a ton of bricks had hit me. Sunday I was unable to move without groaning. A hot bath and advil was very helpful, and by Tuesday I was back. There is just something about snow; fresh snow. It’s peaceful, and it makes the landscape become pure and still.
Winter often speaks of death or dying. Metaphorically. (Not trying to be melancholy here, I am speaking philosophically) Winter, the trees are bare, it gets cold, nature just shuts down. In the middle of winter it can seem like nothing is going to change. As though life will always be this cold and empty place. Not just cold, but ugly. Winter is a very ugly season. Stuff decaying, mud, brown trees, bitter winds. Then it snows, and everything somehow seems warmer. The white washes over the brown and icky land. The snow falls softly and gentle. Not like rain which penetrates. Snow rests. Somehow it seems as though there is hope. I hear a whisper of ‘peace, be still’. You can rest in the divine embrace. Winter is not the end, it is a season. Even in life. Death is not the end, it is the beginning of new fruit.
This is not some sort of mystical, ‘life is a circle’ sort of thing. The winter will only bring forth new fruit if we surrender to the Lord’s work. And it will only bring life, if we trust in Jesus’ leadership in the journey. The whole landscape speaks of embracing humility. What is more humbling than for a tree to drop all of it’s leaves and stand for months naked and bare. It kind of makes you shiver. That is what winter is all about. Embrace humilty, choose love, and trust in Jesus. If you do, He will produce an abundant harvest in your soul and your life.
Well, I didn’t intend to go off into this spiritual & philosophical topic. But there you have it, my thoughts on winter. 
Now for some hot chocolate and a good book…
