Snow
Another Day Along the Way
Sunday, February 4, 2007
Another day,
Before my busy weekend and during my wonderful week, I saw what I wanted to see. Before a Super Bowl Sunday and during my super beginning of a new month, I saw snow.
Waking at 3:30 can be fun. Sometimes. For me, this time, it was. Waking at 3:30 last Thursday was fun.
February started the way I doubted it would. February started the way I dreamed it would.
Looking through windows, I noticed white drops falling from the sky. Various sizes, shapes, and speeds, the snow glanced back - were they smiling at this forty-six year-old man who loved what he saw?
I watched a while, afraid if I returned to sleep I would have no more falling friends, no proof, no snow. But, each time I woke, I heard the rhythm of winter as snow and ice and rain took turns. Street lights placed the precipitation on a stage for my view. An outside light - surprised to be turned on at such a time - revealed a reality show I've missed seeing for a long time. Various sizes and speeds, drops of snow put on a show.
My mind hit rewind. The early years of growing up in this area, of seeing snow fall, of watching it cover houses and yards, of tossing cold white balls in fun, of watching and listening and enjoying. The many years of living in Florida, of sons, of sun, of sunscreen, of storms, of friends, of one snow in two decades. The touch of snow in New York City, in Philadelphia.
My mind returned to that moment. I decided to enjoy the rare, cold, fun event. Snow. I sat inside and watched. I ran outside and walked, welcoming the falls of snow falling on me.
Walking and sliding back home from my winter venture, I thought of life. Our waiting and desiring. Our enjoying. Our response to the arrival of what we hoped to see.
What about us? How long have we waited? How did we respond? Are we enjoying life's snow? Do we stay inside and watch life's events, or do we slide on the icy streets and smile? Do we quickly forget our fun? Or, are we still waiting for a few flurries?
Think. Answer. Evaluate. Reach conclusions and seek improvement, movement, change. Look through windows. Watch and notice. Put on a coat and a cap - walk outside. Slide while smiling.
And live. Today, whether your team wins or loses. Today, whatever the weather or forecast, whatever your pain or your peace, live.
Let us wake and watch. Let us walk. Let us return to this moment and live.
Along the way,
Chris Maxwell
Prayer Surrendered: Give us the faith to know that You are in control.
(Jean McGehee Davison, CONNECTIONS OF HOPE)
http://www.jeandavisonconnections.com/
Sunday, February 4, 2007
Another day,
Before my busy weekend and during my wonderful week, I saw what I wanted to see. Before a Super Bowl Sunday and during my super beginning of a new month, I saw snow.
Waking at 3:30 can be fun. Sometimes. For me, this time, it was. Waking at 3:30 last Thursday was fun.
February started the way I doubted it would. February started the way I dreamed it would.
Looking through windows, I noticed white drops falling from the sky. Various sizes, shapes, and speeds, the snow glanced back - were they smiling at this forty-six year-old man who loved what he saw?
I watched a while, afraid if I returned to sleep I would have no more falling friends, no proof, no snow. But, each time I woke, I heard the rhythm of winter as snow and ice and rain took turns. Street lights placed the precipitation on a stage for my view. An outside light - surprised to be turned on at such a time - revealed a reality show I've missed seeing for a long time. Various sizes and speeds, drops of snow put on a show.
My mind hit rewind. The early years of growing up in this area, of seeing snow fall, of watching it cover houses and yards, of tossing cold white balls in fun, of watching and listening and enjoying. The many years of living in Florida, of sons, of sun, of sunscreen, of storms, of friends, of one snow in two decades. The touch of snow in New York City, in Philadelphia.
My mind returned to that moment. I decided to enjoy the rare, cold, fun event. Snow. I sat inside and watched. I ran outside and walked, welcoming the falls of snow falling on me.
Walking and sliding back home from my winter venture, I thought of life. Our waiting and desiring. Our enjoying. Our response to the arrival of what we hoped to see.
What about us? How long have we waited? How did we respond? Are we enjoying life's snow? Do we stay inside and watch life's events, or do we slide on the icy streets and smile? Do we quickly forget our fun? Or, are we still waiting for a few flurries?
Think. Answer. Evaluate. Reach conclusions and seek improvement, movement, change. Look through windows. Watch and notice. Put on a coat and a cap - walk outside. Slide while smiling.
And live. Today, whether your team wins or loses. Today, whatever the weather or forecast, whatever your pain or your peace, live.
Let us wake and watch. Let us walk. Let us return to this moment and live.
Along the way,
Chris Maxwell
Prayer Surrendered: Give us the faith to know that You are in control.
(Jean McGehee Davison, CONNECTIONS OF HOPE)
http://www.jeandavisonconnections.com/
5 Comments:
Thanks for the story. I am jealous about the snow.
Great food for thought! It really makes you think about if you are enjoying all of life's happenings... have a beautiful and blessed day! xoxo
I, regretfully, chose to stand inside, watching through the window, as my children played in the snow. Part of me longing to go out there and brave the cold and wet, but alas, opting to once again sit on the sidelines of my childrens lives, too self-centered to get uncomfortable. Oh, how I regret that decision now, and long for just one more snow this winter so that I can un-do the wrong choice that I made. Lord, if you hear my prayers, please give me another chance. Let it snow...
What a wonderful reminder that living and being alive are to different things. And what a blessing that God can show us that through something as simple as snow (frozen ice). Amazing
Chris: Yes, snow is nice to see in calendar pictures and on TV, but as someone who grew up in Buffalo NY, I've had enough. Give me the nice ocean breeze and semi-tropical life sytel we have here in Vero Beach Florida. But, I'm hoping many who now live in Florida read your aricle and decide to move to your GA neighborhood.
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