The Winters of Our Lives

Every season has its purpose. Spring brings new life, summer new growth, fall the harvest of the fruits of the previous seasons, and winter the resting time to start the cycle over. Any change in any of the season affects the next. A wet spring means late planting, too dry and the seeds won't grow. Same goes for summer and fall, each  change from the norm, good or bad, brings with it changes, that need to be worked through.

I thought about how this winter of 2011 - 2012 is different from winters past. This period of rest for the earth in our portion of the world is not the same as other years. As much as I like the warm weather, the lack of times I have had to drive to work in a raging snowstorm, or not having to shovel myself out of 3 and 4 foot drifts, I do miss the snow.

Don't get me wrong, I love winter I always have. I remember as a child how I would stand outside during the first real snowfall of the year. How I would watch the snow drifting slowly to the earth, covering the browns of fall with a white blanket, putting it to sleep for a well deserved rest. I would gaze with wonder as the snow came through the area lit dimly by the illumination of the small yard light we had on the peak of our house and feel at peace.

There is a magic in that first snowfall, when it seemed to me the whole world stopped, where silence took the place of noise. No matter how cold it was outside, I felt the warmth of peace inside of me. It was those times my soul felt at rest and a true feeling of renewal made life worth living.

Any time I feel overwhelmed all I need to do is look at a picture or a painting of a winter scene and I get this feeling in my gut that takes me back to that peaceful state and once again soothes my soul. Maybe that is why I especially love looking at winter scene paintings by Monet that I have hanging in my basement.

Painting by Claude Monet

            This winter is different; the lack of snow, the warm temperatures gives the earth an uneasiness, an unrestful state of being. It is like the world is saying “What do you want of me? Let me rest for I have much to get ready for.”

So too can our lives be changed by events not under our control, things that are not the norm so to speak. My winter came early last year; it came in July with the announcement of the leaving of my pastor of the past twelve years. Things changed in my ministry as the new pastor took his place and another parish being brought into the mix of the already two linked parishes I minister at.

It is a time of uneasiness as things changed; one being that I have not given a homily since July of last year and I have not been as visible in the parish as I had been in the past. It has not been a restful time, but a time of uncertainty. A time of not being sure what season I was in and what was, or would be expected of me in the future.

Other things, what some my call opportunities, presented themselves, but what I feel I am unprepared for, yet still accepted, to maybe fill the void. There is no snow cover to find rest and solace in this year. But as nature continues through its cycle of a different winter, it will surly bring about a different spring, summer and fall, but rest assured they will come. I too will continue on, with the grace of God and the support of family and friends to a new but maybe different season.

The winter is not over yet, and the snow may yet come. Until then I have my memories of winters past to bring warmth and rest, and the hope of a new spring coming faster than one can realize to look forward to.

Winter scenes of 2009