It is still "Christmas" at our house. It is Saturday. The sun is shining. There are great piles of snow everywhere. I am lovin' it all.
The weather gurus and the media hype mongers are warning about the next snow to come that will dump another ten to eighteen inches of snow. Already the masses are moaning and groaning about the inconveniences of it all. BRING IT ON!!! Let's enjoy it. Let's savor it. It will be here such a short time. Then we can enjoy spring and all of it's wonders -- like the endless rain that people are then going to be complaining about.
Why is it that what we have is never just right? Not round enough, not warm enough. Not soft enough, not sunny enough. What is that about us anyway? Let's just enjoy the day. Enjoy the moment. Whatever it is will be different soon. And that will be another challenge for enjoyment.
The morning paper's political cartoon space was occupied by this Christmas gift from Gary Varvel. This was his creation for 2008. For the current year's gift click here. This one in particular pretty much sums up my feelings about this day. With so much hope, how did we go so wrong? Or is the state of affairs what Jesus foretold had to happen before the second coming? Regardless, I am accepting my own personal hope in the fact that the Grace of God is always with me -- regardless of the rights and wrongs that exist. It is really hard to see past the wars, the hungry children, the riots. I have to hold on to the grace I continually receive from God. And I have to hope....
It is snowing in Noroton Heights. Not a bliizzard, but not just a flurry either. Just steadily gently falling flakes, touching the ground and melting. Too warm for ice. It may be the last snow of the season -- or not. But I am enjoying the spectacle just beyond my computer screen. Big, fat, clean, white flakes. The gentle falling. Softly meandering down from sky to ground. There is something quite peaceful about it.Shrove Tuesday tomorrow and then Ash Wednesday. And Christmas is still up at our house. I just managed to pack the creches away this morning. Putting baby Jesus to bed before the tortuous adult trip to the cross. And, honestly, I don't know just how much of the strory/stories I really believe. It depends on the day. Some things I can believe in because I am such a believer in the super natural. I don't know whether that is heretical thinking or not, but that's how it is with me. Tomorrow I will get the rest of Christmas put away and do some serious thinking about Lent. I know that I am not going to 'give up' anything. But I am willing to try to establish something new in my life. Or a new discipline of something 'not' new. Don't know what that is yet. Developing my artwork? Establishing a writing time? Maybe something not even for or about me. Maybe a discipline of contacting others. Not phone calls. Can't do the phone thing. Cards though. I could easily send cards and that is something I am supposed to do anyway and just haven't been able to accomplish. I have spent too much time trying to make a card template, frustrating myself beyond belief, stifling any creativity or motivation. To end all that I got the Hallmark Card software and think I may have solved nine tenths of the procrastination. So maybe I can do that.At least I have a vague plan.
