First Snow - November 25

Being outside in just a t-shirt one day and 3 inches of snow on the ground the next, that is how winter showed up this morning. It doesn’t matter how long winter waits, its always to early; I always could use just a couple more weeks. But I have to admit the crisp air and clean snow brightened up the place a whole lot, and it also put an end to all those nagging jobs that will now just have to wait spring.

Snow seems to bring the children outside, and seems to bring the children out in people. Jaymie couldn’t wait to get outside this morning. Her eyes glowed and face brightened at the sight of snow falling outside our window. Before church, before breakfast, before the rest of the family woke there she was, throwing snowballs at the window. She invited me out. The kid inside of me wanted to go. The old person in me – not so much; but there is something inside of me, and I think most of us, that wants to stay young, that longs for more energy, that romanticises our youth – the time we had enough energy, or thought we did, to run outside at the sight of first snow.

The problem is, it takes effort; it so much easier too not do it – to grab that cup of coffee or tea and watch the snow from the comfort of one’s chair. But something deep down despises the fact that I would rather sit then play, that I would rather not, then do. So I go – I go outside into the crisp air and enjoy the first snow and throw a snowball at the window, than at the cat and then at Jaymie who returns the favor. It was a short time, but a good time. As I reflect, I see this morning as a microcosm of life. We all know we get out of life what we put into it; the more effort we put into it, often the fuller life is. We know it – the tough part is doing it.

So go, enjoy the snow – Today!