I have lived in Florida for thirty-some-odd years now and I have yet to have a year go by that I do not miss the change of seasons and that includes winter. I love cold weather. I love snow. I love all of it. My husband laughs at me because I also freeze. I am sitting in my office as I write these words (in Florida) wearing a turtleneck and a warm sweater. Did I mention it is currently 72 degrees and sunny outside. In my defense it is much cooler in my office. But…go ahead and laugh. I am used to it.
On Facebook, I have been enjoying the 1978 Ohio blizzard pictures since the anniversary of that event is coming up. I remember that storm vividly. I also remember that I had classes at Ohio State, Mansfield campus that morning after the blizzard hit. I got up early to get ready for school and do you think my dad, who was awake, said anything to me about the weather outside? No. He did not…until I got ready to leave and he asked if I had bothered to look outside. No. I hadn’t. Why would I? It was 50 degrees and raining when I went to bed the night before. What could possibly happen in eight hours? So, I went to our front door and opened it…to snow. A lot of snow piled so high you could not see out the door. The bottom front of our house was completely covered. We were snowed in…for a week. Fortunately, we could get out through the side door. Although there was no where we could go except to the barn.
As I remember, it was not a bad week either. I had lots of reading time and hot cocoa. We lived on a farm, so we had plenty of food. The furnace had fuel oil in it so heating the house was not a problem. It was a great week to just “putter.” For me, the problems came after we were dug out and the snow began to melt. That is when I was able to find my car. It had been completely covered in snow. It was a white car. I mean, I knew where I parked it, but you could not see it. The real fun came when I went to start the car after we had dug it out. The temperatures had dropped so cold, it cracked the block. And I got to watch as my bank account dropped with the significant repair cost to my car…and yes, I still love cold weather.
There is something so peaceful about cooler temperatures and even more when everything is covered in a blanket of snow. It insulates the world against the cacophony of noise that swirls around us all the time. Invading our lives and driving us relentlessly forward. Snow stops us in our tracks. Literally and figuratively. Snow makes us pause. I think maybe that is why I don’t mind being snowed in. I can put life on hold for a little while.
And we need pauses in life. Time to reset. Time to just be present to what is going on around you. Time to assess where you are in life. Time to consider the changes you have thought about making. Time…precious time. Something we don’t seem to have enough of.
In this season of winter, I pray that you are able to find time for a much-needed pause where you can consider your next steps in life. Where you can be present to the people you love and care about. Time where you can just allow the peace of God to calm your wounded spirit. Time to just be.
Peace,
Beth
Beth's Blog 