The winter does not want to let go. It has it's gnarly, cold fingers firmly grasped around each tree and perennial, every fencepost and blade of grass. I am tired of the death around me...tired of the hibernation, the layers of clothes and jackets, mitts and toques. Tired of the dormancy and dirty snow.
I know we are supposed to appreciate the changing seasons but sometimes it's hard to get happy about cold temps and high windchill. I grew up in Africa where there were only 2 seasons~ dry season and rainy season. I loved it! Either it was hot or it was hot with a cool-down in the evening or early morning when it rained.
The other day I was meditating on the struggle Kevin and I have been through this last while. A year ago we made some life changing decisions and were plunged into a personal winter. The choices we made were our own and we gladly made them at the time...never realizing what would follow, or the far reaching impact those decisions would have on us.
Layers covered us with names like:
It occurred to me that this past year was teaching us about being patient more than anything else. Winter asks us the questions...can you see beauty in bareness? Can you be happy in the cold? Can you be productive and on "purpose" during dormancy? Can you find hope through desolation? Will you choose joy although in pain? Will you live by faith knowing that better days are coming? Will you turn your face towards the sun even if you can't feel any warmth?
There is a season for everything is there not? There is a time for winter...and there's a time for spring. A time to stay...and a time to move.
I know we are supposed to appreciate the changing seasons but sometimes it's hard to get happy about cold temps and high windchill. I grew up in Africa where there were only 2 seasons~ dry season and rainy season. I loved it! Either it was hot or it was hot with a cool-down in the evening or early morning when it rained.
The other day I was meditating on the struggle Kevin and I have been through this last while. A year ago we made some life changing decisions and were plunged into a personal winter. The choices we made were our own and we gladly made them at the time...never realizing what would follow, or the far reaching impact those decisions would have on us.
Layers covered us with names like:
Cold~ lonely~ despair~ longing~ anger~ relief~ remorse~ joy~ anticipation~ regret~ solitude~ faith~ resolve~ determination~ friendship~ isolation~ suffocation~ fear~ excitement~ truth~ lies~ hope~
It occurred to me that this past year was teaching us about being patient more than anything else. Winter asks us the questions...can you see beauty in bareness? Can you be happy in the cold? Can you be productive and on "purpose" during dormancy? Can you find hope through desolation? Will you choose joy although in pain? Will you live by faith knowing that better days are coming? Will you turn your face towards the sun even if you can't feel any warmth?
There is a season for everything is there not? There is a time for winter...and there's a time for spring. A time to stay...and a time to move.
Bye bye winter! We're movin' on...
No comments:
Post a Comment