The Magic of Winter

'WINTER WALK' - PHOTOART BY MICKI FINDLAY

It is so pretty outside today... our Christmas lights glow with their magical hues against the perfect white backdrop of our very first snowfall this year. Everything is so quiet and peaceful. I have some Christmas baking to do today and what a perfect day for it! I wonder if we will have a white Christmas this year? I can always dream. One would think that my eight years in Mackenzie BC would have cured me of that desire, but not so. Although I must admit, six months of snow is a bit much. I am glad to be living on Vancouver Island.

My sons, Gordon and Matthew, loved the winters in Mackenzie, however. They were just little boys and did not seem to notice or care that they went on for so long. I recall the snow forts they built and the numerous tunnels we shoveled to make a 'maze' of sorts through the entire front yard. It was a magical time for them as they played endlessly in the snow, decked out from head to toe in various layers of clothes, snowsuits, scarves, toques, mittens and winter boots. I always dreaded when they would have to come in to go to the bathroom because it seemed to take forever to undress and redress them for the brutal cold. Some days it felt like that was all I did all day! But they could not play outside all the time because Mackenzie can get down to 40 below at times. You didn't go anywhere on those days unless you absolutely had to. So as fun as it was for my boys, I am glad to be back here on the island alright. Brrrrr!......

I am almost done my Christmas shopping... only a couple more things to buy. Our house is all decorated and ready for David's son, daughter and their partners to come and celebrate with us on Christmas Eve. I still cannot figure out how I managed to stuff a Christmas tree in my little Hyundai but I did. That car has certainly served me well, although it is sounding pretty rough these days. I have loaded everything in that car including loads of firewood!

I hope that this Christmas is extra special for everyone this year. I am saddened to hear of various Christmas school concerts that have completely bypassed the whole Christmas message. I know that has been happening for quite awhile now, as far as the baby Jesus is concerned. But I am told that now there isn't even an elf or a jingle bell! And they are now called 'Winter Concerts'. Hmmm..... political correctness seems to be our modern day 'Scrooge' and it is sapping the life, joy and magic right out of the season. How ridiculous!

Well I will not let Scrooge get me down! Merry Christmas everyone! And a very happy new year!

Luke 2:9-12
And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”

Happy Easter Everyone!

I must admit, I love the chocolate bunnies, the Easter egg hunts, the turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy and the pumpkin pie. I love the gathering together of family and friends. I love the fresh spring air, the sunshine, the sign of new life everywhere you look... the buds on the trees, the crocuses and daffodils poking their heads out of the ground.
I love everything about Easter and the spring season.

But these things I feel are simply gifts to us by and from something and someone far more important than all the things we love. I am able to enjoy these things because I was given life by a Creator who decided I was worth giving life to. And, more importantly, by a God who decided I was worth dying for. The bible says, "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."

I am not stupid... I know that this life I am living and enjoying will not last forever. There will come a day when it will all pass away. But I also know that because of the price Jesus paid for my life, I will be able to live again and it will be a life far better than this one.... there will be no more pain, no sadness, no sickness, no stress, no bloodshed... just joy and peace forever. Easter, to me, is a reminder of that fact and I feel I need to take the time to acknowledge the amazing thing Jesus did for me by dying on a wretched cross for all of my sins, past, present and future. And even if you don't believe in Him, he still died for you regardless because he loves you so much. He never forces us to believe. He is a gentleman. He waits patiently with open arms.

Sometimes Christianity seems ridiculous, outdated, narrow-minded and arrogant. There are good reasons for that and I don't blame people for thinking that way. I have watched some evangelists on tv who I wouldn't trust for a minute. I know that wars have begun based on religion. There are Christians who have almost turned me off Christianity. Horrible things have been done in the name of religion throughout the ages. But I think Jesus addressed all of that in one sentence right after he had been whipped and beaten bloody, hung on the cross with huge nails driven into his hands and feet, his clothes ripped off and sold, when he was parched with thirst and only given vinegar to drink... he said," Father forgive them for they know not what they do." Now that is love. He understood how humans are; how they can act, how they fail. But he loves us anyway.

So today I feel the need to say, "Thank you God for loving me, such as I am... one who fails. And thank you for what you did for me and for the life you have prepared for me after this one... where the spring air will always be fresh, the sun will always shine, where new life will flourish everywhere you look... the buds on the trees, the crocuses and daffodils poking their heads out of the ground. And most importantly, where You will be. You and me forever..."