This will likely be an unpopular opinion with many, including a certain someone who cohabitates with me at the same residential address, but I was pleased that Old Man Winter walloped us with a decent enough blizzard on Tuesday.
It wasn't a blizzard to be remembered by any means. Nothing to write down in the record books. But a decent enough effort by Old Man Winter.
I know that for some, the snowstorm most certainly caused them some work-related inconveniences, and many families probably had to do some fancy footwork to care for children who were home from school. But aside from those who were negatively impacted, all in all, I didn't mind the short snapback to what winter is supposed to feel like for us in February.
After all, somewhere in the "Everything Has Its Time" section in Ecclesiastes 3, isn't there a mention about a time for melting, and a time for temperatures so cold your face feels like it's on fire? Followed by the verse that reminds us that there's a time for luscious, forest green grass, and a time for piles of snow so deep you can't back your car out of the garage without first snowblowing?
I dunno. Maybe they're the lost verses in that scripture! But I'm certain they exist!
Seriously, though. ... I am unabashedly a four season kind of guy, meaning I want to feel that there is a difference between my summer and falls, and my falls and winters ... and most especially my winters and springs.
But as of late, it's felt more like we squeezed in a short arctic blast for a couple of weeks in January, but unfortunately it was sammiched by late, late fall on the front side of the cold snap and early, early spring on the backside.
That is, until yesterday, when we received our first proper blizzard of the winter. A solid 4 to 5 inches of snow here in our neck of the woods, some heavily gusty winds tossing it all about and decreasing visibility, and the coup de grace of some facing-numbing temps to boot! Now that was a proper stretch of February weather northwest Minnesota, even if we only got to enjoy it for less than half a day.
Me? ... I was thankful for the reminder that it is still February after all, and that we are still progressing through the Lenten season. Prior to Tuesday, it had been feeling much more like what we might experience in an early spring arriving in either late March or early spring.
And just how are we supposed to properly enjoy the pensive feeling of Lent with it being all sunshiny and with temps that make it shorts-wearing weather here in northwestern Minnesota?
Where's the opportunity to feel empathic to Jesus' 40 day journey of temptation in the desert when we're out frolicking like kids on spring break before the Easter Bunny's even begun to gear up for his big day?
And I'll tell you straight: I ain't got no time for self-introspection when the dogs and I are livin' the high life on our nightly walks! ... Birds chirping, the neighborhood bunnies and squirrels havin' a field day, blue skies and warm breezes on your cheeks. How's that supposed to remind me of suffering, and that I am dust and to dust I shall return? ... It just ain't right!
But then Old Man Winter took note of all this gaiety, and stepped in to put us back in the proper wintery mood. "You're all gettin' a little too excited about 55 degrees in February, and that's not the natural course of things in Lent," I heard him saying on the howling winds Tuesday. "Merriment ... in February? Indeed! I'll put a stop to that!"
And boom, he laid the hammer on God's country that stretches from the Red River Valley on the western side of Minnesota, all the way to shores of Lake Superior on the state's eastern boundary. Snow, wind and cold temps: The trifecta of weather on a perfectly good winter day!
I sense that he didn't aim the snowstorm any further south in the state because none of those folks downstate near the metro area know a proper and good season of lament anyway. Just how can you feel good about celebrating Lent when you have access to all those amenities?
No, Old Man Winter singled out those of us who know the proper way to go through Lent with longing in our hearts and an appreciation for all that Jesus was tempted with in the desert. And as such, he dumped a 4 to 5 inch gift of seasonal heaven on us, and graciously allowed us to feel that good chill deep in our bones because he loves us and wants us to be properly prepared for the celebration of Easter?
And thankfully so, because I simply can't imagine how you can appreciate a bright and cheery Easter morning egg hunt if you haven't pulled your snowblower out of your garage at least once that winter? ... Am I right?
Anyway, the winter season was salvaged on Tuesday, thanks to one little late winter blizzard that gave us all it had. Yes, it was no record breaker by any means, but it was enough of a mood killer to knock those silly spring-inspired smiles off our faces for at least the next four weeks.
After all, no one has the right to enjoy the weather that much until after the Easter ham has been eaten. Am I right?
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