Benefits of Snow
Posted by charliehalley | Tags: charlie, CovenantAir, Family FiestaBefore we left Michigan in 1987, I gave my snow shovel to a neighbor. Gleefully I said, “I’ll never need this in North Carolina.” Having been born and raised in Texas, I was glad to be moving back to a warm climate. And although I really like to sled, ski, build snowmen and throw snow balls, I hate to shovel snow. This deep-seeded conviction has once again been confirmed these past few weeks. Come on spring!
But there is one thing I do love about snow in the South: it changes my priorities for the better.
First let me confess that I am a Type A personality. Per Wikipedia, these types are “impatient, time-conscious, highly competitive, business-like, having difficulty relaxing; and are sometimes disliked by individuals with Type B personalities for the way that they’re always rushing. They are often high-achieving workaholics who multi-task, drive themselves with deadlines, and are unhappy about delays.” So normally, I wake up on Saturday mornings early and with a very full agenda for the day. No time to relax, got to get cracking!
With the city-stopping snow on a recent Friday night, I woke up Saturday morning and got a fresh taste of sanity. Instead of manically chasing my self-imposed deadlines, I just chilled. My blood pressure dropped, and I slowed down like I haven’t in months. I took a walk in the snow and just listened to the sounds; it was totally quiet. There were no horns, no engines, no airplanes, nothing. You could hear the breeze blowing through the trees, and it seemed to breathe renewed life into my spirit. I was also more attentive to Mary Lou and my neighbors. Instead of being preoccupied with chores, I tuned into family and friends.
So why does it take snow and ice to reestablish family-friendly priorities?
Unfortunately, the world I live, and so easily get caught up, in does not prioritize people. It’s about stuff. It’s about speed. It’s about climbing ladders. It’s about racing. It’s about consuming. And more often than I would like, I reflect these values.
But God’s world is completely opposite. It’s about relationships. It’s about compassion. It’s about patience. It’s about sharing. It’s about investing our lives in people, “loving our neighbor as ourselves.”
So what was your experience with the recent snows? Did it make you a better neighbor? Join Branson this weekend in worship as he continues to unpack what it means to honor Jesus’ command to love those around us. It will be good to experience the fresh winds of the Spirit together and catch up with our Covenant neighbors.
And don’t forget our upcoming Family Fiesta on Saturday night, February 27th. We will have a special and creative worship time followed by a great opportunity to hang out with friends while enjoying family-friendly games, creative activities and a few tacos!
Slowing down with Jesus,
Charlie
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6 Comments to “Benefits of Snow”
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Donine says:
Charlie! From one Type A to another, you are in good company, my friend. It's funny how the Lord has a way of adjusting your life, sometimes in very dramatic fashion, as recently happened to me, and forcing you to slow down, reflect inwardly or reconnect.. I LOVE snow! I was so excited to see snow this year, since I won't be skiing due to my broken left ankle (awaiting Duke surgery ). My ankle did not stop the kid in me from bursting out into the snow at dawn, to take photos. Everything was so beautiful! Mom, Dad and I hunkered down, ate good food, watched movies and the Olympics together. It was great, because Dad, like you, is MIA every Saturday. For once, we were all home together, and it was so nice. Since I'm alone everyday awaiting my surgery, the Lord has really put it in my heart to use this time to get into a place of complete surrender and trust with Him; no easy task for a control-freak! Everyday the Lord DEMONSTRATES to me , in tangible ways, that I can trust Him totally in all areas of my life. Every cloud has a silver lining. Mine is an ever-deepening relationship with Jesus. and for that I am truly thankful.
Charlie says:
It sounds like the Lord is intentionally pursuing your heart these days….don't resist! True life is not about stuff and power, but about investing in eternal and kingdom-focused realities.
Blessings with your surgery and rehab
Charlie
scott says:
It’s so true…I noticed the whole neighborhood out playing in the snow together. Speaking of investing, maybe I need to invest in a snow machine (or just pass out snow cones, yeah that’s more like it)…I’ll get back to ya on that one! Good word.
jeffdaigle says:
Charlie, that is exactly what my wife said about the snow! She loved it because it made us all as a family just slow down and be together w/o the hustle and bustle of the normal routine. It's amazing to consider, in light of having just finished intentionally "connecting" w/ friends and family as part of Intentional for 10 just weeks ago, just how quickly we get sucked back into the busyness of life and to-do lists and schedules and all that.
Charlie says:
Last night a Covenant participant pointed out that in his experience when folks leave the Covenant parking lot on Sunday mornings they are very polite, but by the time they get to Zaxby's for lunch they are anything but…..these habits are deeply ingrained!
AshQ says:
We just went on a week-long family trip that caused us to evaluate the very same thing! On the 10-hour drive home we stopped to eat lunch and just get out of the car. We spread out blankets and had a picnic. I couldn't remember the last time we had time to have a picnic together! I am wrestling with how we can be intentional about eachother in this crazy world! It's gonna take some drastic changes I think!