"He energizes those who get tired, gives fresh strength to dropouts."
Isaiah 40:29 (MSG)
I used to dislike winter. There was no way I
would consider going out into the freezing cold if I didn't have to, and
when my wife would invite me to go for walks, I was quick to turn her
down. Brrr! The mere thought would chill me right to the core of my
being.
My body didn't help me with this. The first time I would
get cold, it would pierce right through to my bones, and I'd be cold for
the rest of the winter. Hot showers didn't help. The chill would be
there until Spring--Which, by the way, I eagerly anticipated!
This all changed with my CPAP troubles. Ever since I yearn for fresh
air, and I go out for a walk every day, no matter how hard the wind
blows, no matter how cold it is. In other words . . . Nothing can stop
me. For some reason, the cold no longer fazes me. It no longer settles
into my bones. In fact, I often walk in -15C degree weather with my coat
open wide. As you can imagine, I have embraced winter ever since! I
agree with those who live in Alaska: There is no bad weather, only bad
gear!
If God has given us winter, it is for us to enjoy and
embrace. It wasn't created so that we could shiver while looking through
a window. It was created to give us beauty. Have you noticed how nature
is embellished when it snows? The fluff-covered trees look glorious, and
the ice storms render nature even more beautiful. Winter literally turns
nature into a ferry-tale world where we can't help but say, "Wow!"
Having said all of that, I have to admit that my favorite season of
the year is still summer. I love it when the sun shines warmly. Thus,
during winter, I anticipate the day when Spring will wake nature back
up, and the dead (trees,flowers) will arise. It is a great illustration
of what we anticipate when Jesus comes back for us--And He will
certainly come back!
Winters don't faze me any longer. They
energize me. Join me for a walk and discover the beauty of this season.
And because winter will soon be coming on again, what better time to
write about it than during the summer!
Rob Chaffart
