In the Bleak Midwinter

Most of my life has been spent in “snow country”. I spent much of my teenage existence in Salt Lake City, Utah where it is snowy from the end of October to almost May in some areas. The skies can be gray and depressing (although going past the cloud line in the mountains can change that entirely). I went to college in New Hampshire, which sees its fair share of snow and cold. Now, I live on the northern plains, where snow and cold are one entire season lasting about 8 or 9 months. For someone who claims they don’t like cold and snow, I pick some pretty odd places to live.
I have a confession to make-I do love snow. I just don’t like driving in it. The cold doesn’t really bother me, unless I am underdressed for it, like when we went sledding a few weeks back.( I only had one pair of socks on, and my feet froze.) I love exhaling and seeing my breath hang in the air. I get giddy over the first snowfall. I love playing in it, with my son and my dog. The laughter a good snow ball fight can exude is contagious.
I am in awe and wonder over the fact that frozen water can alter the landscape completely. Something as simple as a raindrop can morph into a work of incredible beauty. It is a reminder during this bleak mid winter that God is truly working behind the scenes each and every day. The joy and rush of the holiday season is over, and we are casting our gazes longingly to the glorious resurrection this spring. The in between times serve as reminder that even when we don’t see it, miracles are happening all around us. There aren’t the decorations that give us a visual cue, this is much more subtle. We turn inward, and start the process of self examination. We set new year’s resolutions to lose weight or be more organized, but do we set a resolution to spend more time with God?
I find myself searching more during these in between days. I am searching for that indelible joy that Christmas and Epiphany serves, but as decorations are packed away so goes that excitement. It doesn’t need to be that way.
We need to seek Him out in the bleak mid-winter.

http://youtu.be/jwStDK2_qpw