Every once in a while – not too often, mind you – I realize that I’m not a spring chicken anymore – oh, I hate the phrase because when I think of chickens I remember how as a child on my aunt’s farm I had to get eggs from those hens that pecked at me. At any rate, I was out early for the first pass with my snow blower.
After the snow stopped, I took another pass while my son did most of the cleanup where I couldn’t get with my toy. But, being me, I also shoveled and by 8 PM I crawled into bed with a book.
I should have known better because I was then up from 2 until almost 6 reading. It’s a nice time to read because it’s totally quiet. Even the birds are asleep. There are worse things than falling asleep with a book in your hands. There is my cat, of course, who sat on me to point out that the sun had already risen and he wanted to be fed. Fortunately, Craig had cleaned off the entire deck so I could feed the ferals as well. I wonder where they sleep in the snow, possibly in my neighbor’s old garage.
Prayer for the Day
Shimmering in the sunlight, the snow is astoundingly beautiful,
Almost making us forget how cold it really is outside;
Still now the branches for the wind has died down,
Giving us the illusion of winter warmth even in the cold.
Remembering your call to justice and mercy, O Lord,
In the midst of beauty, may we not forget those who have no shelter,
In the name of the One who summons us to do justice,
Even Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.
Thoughts for the Day
Snow was falling, so much like stars filling the dark trees that one could easily imagine its reason for being was nothing more than prettiness.
- Mary Oliver, Poet (1935-2019)
All Heaven and Earth Flowered white obliterate... Snow...unceasing snow”
- Hashin, Japanese Haiku
Bless, O my being, the Lord! Lord, my God, you are very great.
Grandeur and glory you don.
Wrapped in light like a cloak, stretching our heavens like a tent-cloth.
Setting beams in the lofts like the water, making the clouds your chariots.
Psalm 104: 1-3 (Robert Alter trans.)