This, too, shall pass

The wind is super strong tonight and I just looked at the temperature..brrrrr! It is 30 degrees! We went golfing on Sunday in the balmy 70 degree sunshine. But as they say in Abilene, and most parts of Texas: If you don't like the weather, wait a few minutes..it will change!

I remember a college day in Lubbock. I went into church with a light jacket, as there was a mild chill in the air, but the sun was still shining. Then I came out of church 2 hours later, and there was a blizzard outside. A few hours later the snow burned off, and the dirt started blowing. By 4 p.m. the sky was red and everyone was very very confused. God and His fabulous creation are full of surprises.

So many things in life seem long. Waiting for babies, in the case of my friend Olivia and mermaid #3. Waiting for health, as my friend mermaid #2 has. Waiting for pronouncement from doctors that the cancer is gone. Waiting for grief to abate and for life to return to a pseudo normal state. Waiting for the time to pass. Waiting for winter to end.

Life has a way of changing so rapidly, it is exciting and crazy and hurtful emotional. But all of life is simply a waiting game. For this life was meant to pass. All the weird, terrible and wonderful things don't last down here.

But I am grateful that things change, they get better, they get worse. Time and chance happen to us all. Our babies grow and they become little people, gradually finding out that Santa isn't real and that You, the parent, really don't know everything. Our babies grow and have new babies who believe that you, the grandparent, do know everything. Time passes. Winter melts into spring. Christmas must come and pass so that Easter can come.

As we are passing from the winter of our discontent, let us learn to be happy in the days we have. There is a poem I read once, that stuck with me for around 20 years. It is the following:

Look well to this day
For it is life
The very best of life.
In its brief course lie all
The realities and truths of existence,
The joy of growth, the splendour of action,
The glory of power.
For yesterday is but a memory.
And tomorrow is only a vision.
But today well lived
Makes every yesterday a memory of happiness
And every tomorrow a vision of hope.
Look well, therefore to this day.

As our winter passes, don't forget to enjoy the crazy world and existence we have been given. Even the dirt storms.

Winter passing

Take the blanket and tuck it in tight
For the wind is raging with all of it’s might
A storm is blowing far out on the sea.
But tonight , tonight we are passing…passing
Passing like winter into the spring..

What is the hour, I heard myself say
But I don’t really care, since its night and not day
And the wee hours are precious as the dawn will appear
But tonight we are Passing passing
Passing like winter so dear

It is funny that I cannot help but sing
And influence creation to do the same thing
But our song has almost come to an end
Passing, passing, like winter our friend

Hold your breath with me and ride through the snow
For our times at an end and the moon’s sinking low
But we will ride with the end in our sight…..
For tonight we are Passing, Passing
Passing passing like winter so bright
Passing passing like winter so bright.