February - More than a Dust of Snow

In early January we experienced a foot of snowfall, more than we have seen in eight years. The view from the office window was breathtaking, with tree shadows patterning across the snow, river glistening in the background, and snow covering the Lodge roof. While I was caught up in beauty, others had a more realistic viewpoint. I heard comments like, "There's no place to park!" "In a couple days it will just be ugly and dirty". Some people just moaned. These sentiments brought to mind a delightful winter poem by Robert Frost

Dust of Snow

The way a crow

shook down on me

the dust of snow

from a hemlock tree

has given my heart

a change of mood

and saved some part

of a day I had rued.

Isn’t this the perennial challenge, allowing what could be an aggravation remind us that response to any part of our daily lives is our choice?

The OMI novices from Zambia and Namibia did not have the backlog of many snows to affect their response to it, nor did they have to get out and go somewhere immediately; so, instead of grousing, they were elated. One particular response can be seen in the photo above. After a thrilling slide downhill into the “bowl” at the Novitiate, this excited novice threw himself face down in the snow, tossing it into the air. Pure delight! May this photo be an encouragement to throw ourselves delightfully into this great gift of life on our rare and precious planet.

Happy February!