Listening for snow falling on snow

The last two days in Durham, North Carolina have produced roughly a foot of snow. That is a lot in any NC winter storm. That's a whole lot in early December.

Today, the second day of flakes falling from the sky, had me pulling from the shelf Robert J. Wicks excellent book on Spiritual Landscape, Snow Falling on Snow.

I am struck by a section called Listening (page 41):

Wicks writes: "One of the reasons listening is a rare gift today is that so many of us (possibly because of our anxiety) strive too hard to do something useful or to be immediately helpful in some tangible way. The problem is that in the process of doing this we fail to really listen to a person's pain. In becoming stressed out ourselves over what we need to do to be "successful" with someone in need, we often fail to realize the pure value that is listening, in and of itself. Furthermore, when we're not observing the situation for what it really is, we not only miss a chance for understanding, but occasionally may even make the situation worse by acting too impulsively."

Today is a great day to listen to the sound of snow falling on snow. That's no easy work. There is really not much sound, but then there is. Other sounds become quite distinct if we will listen for a while longer. 

Lent

The sometimes somber tone of Lent can at times be juxtaposed with the beauty of a bright Spring in North Carolina. Do I feel down and low or cheerful and ready for new life.

In other places around the world, winter is still in full effect. We barely had winter at all in North Carolina, for which I for one, am thankful.

Season is everything with the psyche. Seasonal affective disorder, beach season, the crispness of fall, the quiet that comes during snowfall.

Take note of the season and see how it is running with your mood or against it. How is the creator providing a day, a weather system, a whole climate in order to shape your life? Are you shifting with the seasons?

F. Buechner once said, "Preach the day." What a great thing to preach.

The Gift of Presence

"Presence" is truly one of the best gifts we can offer to others in need. The value of presence to another person should not be understated. When we sit with people in the darkness and "help them cry" we model hope and new possibilities in ways even we sometimes don't realize.

from Snow Falling on Snow by Robert Wicks

The Window

The Window

Confucius said many, many years ago: “Look at this window: it is nothing but a hole in the wall, but because of it the whole room is full of light. Being full of light it becomes an influence by which others are securely transformed.” This window of which he speaks is, for me, silence—the true silence that allows God to speak.

from Snow Falling on Snow by Robert Wicks