Minister’s Column
It was about 12:30 on Sunday afternoon–the time when coffee hour is winding down and my tiredness starts to hit me. In the back of my mind I begin to think about packing up and cleaning up what I need to and heading home. I remark to one of the people who is still enjoying the coffee hour about the lovely sunshine. It’s been super cold for a week straight and the sun is a nice change. “Are you planning to go out and enjoy the outdoors today?” she asks.
“No,” I reply. “I’m thinking of going skiing tomorrow.” My thinking was that Monday is forecast to be all the way up to 32 degrees. I’ve noticed that on my calendar and planned that it will be my first day of cross country skiing this winter. The snow is great, but the last week has been too cold. I also have been worried that the dirt road into the park will be too slippery. Monday will be just right, but today – Sunday – I’m just going to go home and rest, I’m thinking. Do nothing for a couple of hours before my 3:30 meeting.
But it occurs to me quite suddenly that the weather is actually perfect today. It’s 25 and sunny. The snow is probably awesome out on the trail. And I have just the right amount of time before my next meeting–so I decide to go.
Cross-country skiing at Deerfield Nature Park is one of life’s delights. I love this park at all seasons: the trail along the river, the two swinging bridges and the covered bridge, the swimming holes I love in summer, the pine grove where I did a harvest ritual a few months ago. And then I come for skiing and the trails are transformed into snow pathways; the forest is silent and serene; the river is partly frozen with ice floating in the middle channel. The parking lot is nearly full when I arrive. On the trail everyone is friendly: they comment on the snow conditions, the beautiful weather, and the traffic of fellow skiers.
On the downhill parts of the trail I whoop with delight. On the uphills I dig in and feel my strength. It’s cold and I’m alive: outdoors with my people; out in nature enjoying the unique beauty of winter. As I write this, two days later, the weather is changing and rain is in the forecast for tomorrow. The moments that are good for skiing are indeed rare and fleeting. I’m glad that I embraced the moment I could on Sunday, instead of putting it off. May we always have the good sense and good fortune to take enjoyment in life when we can.
PRAYER:
May we remember that today is the day for living.
May we resist putting off both joy and important work for tomorrow.
God bless the river and the trees. God bless the skiers and the snow.
May we find what we love and may we do it while we can.
Amen.
Rev. Drew Frantz
January 23, 2024