Winter's Gifts

The onset of winter is firmly upon us with obvious signs all around. The first snows have fallen. Waters that have flowed freely under the sun’s caress are now locked in a frozen embrace. Light dwindles until night seems to visit before the end of the day’s activities. Breath is noticeable in crisp, cutting air and clouds appear laden with the promise of more frozen white crystals. Mother Nature continues her endless cycles.

While most of her creations respond with harmony and surrender, only the human kingdom has the choice to acquiesce and flow or challenge with an attempt to impose a self-created and desired path. Many choose the former, having discovered the folly of challenging the natural order of life in. Still many are the numbers who look at their own agendas and timetables as independent of and superior to the natural flow of all life.

Increasingly, I've noticed there seems to be an general malaise, contrary to nature, that most people are feeling. I have noticed it by people not attending events that typically take place around this time of year, whether it be a party or a family gathering, or by not getting invloved in the spirit of giving and general appreciation. Maybe it's because they are just feeling the pinch of the economy or maybe some expectation they had as to how things should be thats weighing heavily their minds. Or maybe they are experiencing the reality that agendas and timetables are neither independent of nor superior to the natural order.

In some cases we need "to just show up" by attending family, church and community events, no matter how difficult it may seem, and by spending time with loved ones. God understands how important it is to just show up. The Christmas story, in a sense, is about God showing up on earth and the wise men, shepherds and others showing up at the manger. There is hope in just being present. We just don't get through by ourselves.

This is Christmas Eve and tomorrow is Christmas Day. This, indeed, is a natural time of hope and giving. We intentionally set aside this time of year to feel hope, to feel joy, to be giving to one another, to be generous to one another, to show appreciation, and it's such a wonderful thing that we do this intentionally.

So show up and enjoy winter's gifts.