It is winter, the season with the reason to be miserable. Is this true? Many people live life like winter gives us some permission to let out all our frustration on others. I was talking to someone the other day and he said, "It must be winter because everyone seems to be so miserable." One person comes home from work all stressed, angry and acting like she lives in bitch city. Her poor husband and children have to live with her bad moods day in and day out. Then there is another guy who wants to throw his computer out the window because it won't download fast enough. Someone else is all depressed and lonely because they have been staying indoors for the last few weeks, determined not to go outside in the minus zero temperatures. What are the root causes? Not enough vitamin D? Not enough social interaction? Not enough sex? Just asking.
The overcast grey skies creep into our souls and people become miserable. The news forecast is a daily re-run of bad news and horrible world events. That is not even mentioning all the other personal things people endure each day. We don't know how the mind works. I've been feeling the winter blues myself; feeling like I desperately just want to escape everything, everyone and go lay on a nice sand beach, soak up the sun, feel it's warmth and the gentle breeze and yes have a nice refreshing drink to sip. Sounds dreamy to me. That is about where my imagination stops and reality kicks back in.
Yesterday the sun actually shined and the sky was a beautiful blue. Go figure the pond had frozen over nice and smooth. It is a big pond. Without anyone to join me, I went out back, put on my cold rusty skates. I pulled out an old hockey stick that had been leaning against a tree for the past two years then I threw down the little black puck. For the next hour I skated from one end of the pond to the other. My beautiful dog Camber ran by my side the entire time. It felt invigorating and refreshingly wonderful. While skating, I had a lot of time to listen to God and also talk to God in the quiet of the great outdoors. It was our time.
That is what I did. I said to The Lord, "Okay, if there is anything you want to tell me Lord, I'll just be quiet and listen. There was no one else around. It was so quiet. I thought, well I can't lay on the nice warm beach, but I will just lay in the middle of the pond and wait on The Lord. There I was - looking up into the vast canopy and all I could see was blue sky with some rays of sunlight. I felt the same warmth, I once felt as a child. This was not my first time laying out in the middle winter looking up and experiencing the presence of God with me. It really could not have been much better if I was on a nice sandy beach. Did I hear God speak to me in an audible voice? Many would like me to say yes. No. However, I have to tell you, there was more than once where I heard the moaning and grumblings of the ice upon which I lay. It was almost scary. For a moment I thought, the ice could break open and swallow me up. Not likely since the ice is about ten inches deep. Then my thought drifted off again for another moment. I even thought, Oh, I wonder if God will just rapture me. That is how much I believed that God was with me.
Then I thought, how incredible the sounds of the ice. Then I heard a crow squawking in the distance and the sound of whistles of the wind piercing my ears. Somehow to me, it seemed that God was speaking and letting me know that he was there. There was no loud deep voice speaking Moses (Rebecca) you must do this or do that. In my prayer and meditation with God, I did share with Him many things, which he already knows anyway. What more can I say? It was a refreshing time. Once again I realized how great winter can be when we choose to enjoy it rather than complain about it.
So many of us, would rather look out the window rather than open the door and look with a new perspective. I'm guilty as charged. Now that I realize it. I'm going to go out that door again today. I could go skating again. I think. . . instead, I'll take my mum out and let her get some fresh air too.
Guess what? If you look out your window today, you will see once again the sky is blue and the sun is shining. Why not get out and enjoy it. Even if you are at work or many things to do. Consider taking a break. You could go outside for a minute or two and clear out the cobwebs, release the stress and while you are at it - talk to God. Don't be surprised at what you might hear in response.
You might not have a pond in your back yard. Come over to the one in my back yard or look around and you will find the equivalent. May God Bless you today and may He lift up your spirit to find the sunshine and help you through these winter blues. Amen! I think it is going to snow today. I might have to build a snowman instead of skating on the pond. Want to build a snowman?
