{"id":10040,"date":"2015-03-05T15:13:05","date_gmt":"2015-03-05T20:13:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/beginnersheart\/?p=10040"},"modified":"2015-03-05T15:13:05","modified_gmt":"2015-03-05T20:13:05","slug":"snowy-days","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/beginnersheart\/2015\/03\/snowy-days.html","title":{"rendered":"snowy days"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>
the author’s<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Today my son & DIL’s back yard is snuggled in under a white blanket of new snow. Actually, the new inches are layered over the previous feet. This is the Blue Ridge Mountains, and snow is part of winter.<\/p>\n

And while it makes driving a huge chore — not to mention scary! — it’s so beautiful. So that’s my thought today: my old friend reframing. I was smart enough to realise, when I went w\/ my DIL to take my grandson to daycare, and drop her off at work, that we’d need something to eat tonight. A trip to the corner supermarket put two small roasts on schedule. (They’re browning now.)<\/p>\n

And my son just went to pick up wife & son early — the university is closing; the daycare is closing. It’s getting slickery. But again — it’s so very beautiful…<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
via commons.wikimedia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

To know that there is enough heat, enough warm food, good company, and warm beds for this night that will drop to 6\u00b0…. What a secure feeling. And how often we take it for granted, our ordinary American lives.<\/p>\n

Down the street from me — probably 1\/4 mile, as the crow flies — a man froze to death one winter night. In my neighbourhood. Actually outside my bank… For lack of a blanket, shelter, warm food. All of which I have in abundance. When I think about my small trials — and too often they do NOT seem so small, I’ll tell you! — I try to remember what I don’t even think about. The things that for their lack, kill Americans every winter.<\/p>\n

And yet this cruel cold is so quiet. The large pines are sifted w\/ snow, and the tracks of the occasional rabbit, and the dog Silas, feather the glittering surfaces. What do I know about beauty that isn’t written in those footsteps, and the veil of snow descending with the late afternoon sun?<\/p>\n

Reframing, folks. Like winter: cruel but beautiful. Beautiful but dangerous. It’s a metaphor for something, surely. If I can just read those tracks…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Today my son & DIL’s back yard is snuggled in under a white blanket of new snow. Actually, the new inches are layered over the previous feet. This is the Blue Ridge Mountains, and snow is part of winter. 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