Rain. Sleet. Slush. Ice. Snow. Winter storm…
A “wintery mix” as the weather man says,
Trying as always to put a positive spin on the bad news.
The people all moan and complain at the cold,
As if they’ve never before experienced a snowstorm.
By nightfall the precipitation has begun,
The heavy, wet slush accumulating inch by inch.
And the people, they worry, lying cozy in bed,
About how they’re going to travel the next day.
The morning is hazy, still spitting tiny snowflakes.
Cars, covered in the cold and wet mess, burn cold fuel
As their drivers impatiently scrape away at the windows.
And as they drive to work, braking carefully,
Or walk to class, skating across frozen sidewalks,
Their faces are angry, their brows furrowed.
Winter is nothing but an inconvenience in their busy lives.
Lives so busy, they never take the time,
To stop, to look, to really see, to wonder…
Wonder about the world we live in,
The land that breathes life into each of us,
And all of the wonders of God’s great creation.
If they would stop for a moment and look up,
They would see the trees…
Enveloped perfectly in a layer of ice,
Turned to giant crystals that glisten in the sun.
The wind softly tousles the glass-like branches,
Twigs clatter together like miniature wind chimes.
How could such an elaborate beauty form
From the misery of last night’s intimidating storm?
Icicles frozen intricately around each twig, bud, and residual leaf,
Almost as if a skilled, patient hand had formed that masterpiece.
Or maybe that is exactly what happened…
And He has revealed himself to us in the beauty of His creation,
Giving us a reason to smile and be thankful to be alive
Even in the midst of the season’s frigid cold.
The Earth has her seasons, and she must grow and change.
Nature must make its cycle, and all living things must adapt.
Winter is a part of the circle, and though the people may complain,
The Earth needs her moisture, whether it be snow or rain.
Credit for all photos: Helen Lacey
