I am learning to like the weather in Ohio more and more. Sometimes I think we are disrespectful to God in the way we talk about the weather. There is a beauty in every season and every day of every season. The snow has been falling in heaps and the other morning I was out early shoveling. There must have been about 8 inches on my walkway. My breath came out in plumes of mist. It was just me and my shovel and snow and it was still falling gently on my shoulders. A car passed by and I looked up. It went by quieter than a car should. The snow had fallen and covered the earth like a blanket and like a blanket deadens the sounds around so the whole earth had become more quiet. I stood and stretched my back and let the quiet sink into my soul. My world is full of noise. God knows it is too much noise so this day here in northeastern Ohio he sent me silence and pushed me outside so I could hear it. I realize winter has just begun and I may feel differently in early April but I think we should all be careful. The God of the universe made northeastern Ohio and he allows us to live here. When he finished creating Ohio I think he stepped back and said it was good. Each season of the year laden with gifts for us. Winter has just begun, that is true. The gifts of this season are just beginning as well. Listen and look, smell and touch, for the King of Kings created it all and put you here. Your joy and noticing the gifts he has given gives him joy. Joy to the world, the Lord is come.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
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6 comments:
I love this perspective, absolutely make the best of each day we have , even if in the snow and sunless days.
The peacefulness of this season is something we can treaure.
Joe,
I live in Southern California. I grew up in Northfield, OH where my family still lives. I SO appreciate this perspective on the change of seasons, the quiet that the snow offers - I could FEEL that quiet at I read your Coffey Talk today. It made me smile, close my eyes, and envision being there! We all tend to think "the grass is always greener" especially when thinking of the winter weather. I miss the change of seasons! I long for snow to shovel and leaves to rake! I tire of the sun day after day! So - for everyone out there that thinks there could be nothing better than sunshine every day - LISTEN to Joe's message. I will try to be grateful for the sunshine because there are so many who wish for it. Be grateful for the snow - because there are those of us out here that wish for it as well. Thanks to God for all the wonders of every season!!
That was beautiful. I needed that. And in fact, thought the very same thing yesterday morning as I saw the sun peaking through the snow covered tree tops, how peaceful and still the morning and how beautiful it was.
It's easy to lose the significance of each season and lose the joy in the extremes of those season.
I see it in my children as they enjoy the snow so much, while I'm grumbling about it. ;-)
Perhaps if I try to see the world through my children's eyes I will see more clearly.
Christmas Peace to You~
Judy VC
Amen!
I enjoy it from the inside looking out. LOL...
It IS beautiful and I DO enjoy the change of the seasons. But there is a lot of stress that comes to me during severe winter storms when my loved ones are out on the highways trying to get to work or back home safely. An hour's commute can then translate into 2-3 hours...those days are not fun. What I DO like about winter is what it can teach us ~ that everything in God's creation needs a time of rest, a time of quiet, a time to lie a little lower and reflect. That's what I love about winter.
I hope you post about the Christmas concerts. I love our church, but never have I been more proud and at the same time humbled than by what I saw Thursday night on stage. Black and white and Asian and maybe other ethnicities, young and old, male and female.
Truly that is what heaven will look like and sound like.
Sunday morning I heard that over 5000 people came to worship and praise the birth of Christ through music at our concerts.
Thank you choir and musicians and all who had a hand in this past weekend.
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