Snow's on! We are covered in milky white this morning. About 6 six inches so far, with more in the forecast. At my home, there are mixed reviews.
My sons ran into it. The eight year old literally belly-flopped into a shallow drift, lay there—face down—for a good long while soaking in the glory of the moment.
Work crews, linemen, rescue teams, and Red Cross volunteers are not as exuberant. I, meanwhile, am trying to decide my personal outlook.
It is beautiful, at least viewed from inside my warm home, with hot coffee steaming around my face and hands.
Also, there's a kind of mystery in it-- who knows the trek of each snow flake from sky-high origins to final resting place on my window sill? Where is its next destination? The sea? Antarctica? The Zambezi?
For my kids, our snow holds a grab-bag of rollicking fun, laughter, and snowball fights! Donna likes looking at it. I enjoy it when I know my family only has to get in it for the fun of it. (Oh, and I might add, only when the pipes aren't frozen and the electricity is working.)
The snow, is neutral, I suppose. People, on the other hand, are quite diverse, aren't they?
The man making a living plowing snow sees relief in the form of dollars and dimes.
The man owning the snow buried parking lot sees a new bill to pay and loss of profits.
The wife seeing her husband off to work, sighs that her Saturday rest will be cut short. Breakfast will be necessary long before daylight so he can drive the snow plow and clear the streets.
The wife waiting on her husband signs in relief at the sound of the garage door lifting as he returns from a 14 hour EMT shift.
Children thrill at the prospect of play in it. Parents worry about children catching cold from it. Grandparents remember playing, and worrying, and they smile.
What we learn about people from the snow applies to all areas of life. Perspective makes a difference. A bad economy means job losses for some, but it means opportunity for others. War means defeat and victory. Unfortunately, Haiti's earthquake resulted in horrific ruin for many. Unfortunately, it meant freedom for several thousand criminals.
Life has snow days. When it does, maybe the child's perspective is the best to assume: belly-flop into a shallow drift, lay there—face down—for a good long while and soak in the glory of the moment. Anyway, most the alternatives are far less refreshing.
