It was winter today! Cold, snowy, windblown. The snow gusted into plumes whipping across the roadway in front of the car obscuring visibility. Driving was very slow and several cars were in the ditch. Wind snatched at hats, scarves and gloves as we walked across the parking lot. Icy patches on the ground requiring careful walking. Concentration was essential. There was no doubt as to what season was upon us.
I find it is difficult on this kind of winter day to recall the gorgeous autumn weather with the sunshine radiating through the leaves that I enjoyed a few weeks ago. Or even the mild temperatures we enjoyed a day or two ago. Summer with its warm temperatures and long days seems a universe away today and almost a fantasy.
Have you noticed that trouble, hardship, crisis, illness, and death are like winter. They make it difficult – sometimes almost impossible – to recall goodness, joy, and love. They rob us of ready access to the memories of that which is good, and snatch at our sense of balance and the quality of our life.
We do not know exactly in what month that Jesus was actually born, but it is a good thing that we commemorate it in December as winter closes in upon us. It reminds us that God breaks into the winter of life with good news, with love, with warmth, with sustaining strengthening presence. This help us through the winter seasons of our life and coaxes us to recall, to believing that there can be, that there will be, a Spring of new life and rebirth.
Don
