"A Walk in the Snow"  ~   December, 2013 

"Thank goodness for the first snow, it was a reminder -- no matter how old you became and how much you'd seen, things could still be new if you were willing to believe they still mattered."

                                                                   ~ Candace Bushnell, Lipstick Jungle

                " A Walk Through Some White Wisdom"

"Surprise Holiday" © 2013  ~ photo by Carol E Fairbanks

I wasn't the only one who woke up that Friday morning and looked outside and saw great possibilities for the day.  Just about every kid in the Willlamette Valley area was probably scrambling that very moment,  looking for their boots and gloves and sled in anticipation of a grand adventure.  The whole landscape was transformed into a winter wonderland that discouraged the usual normal nonsense of serious work and instead invited everyone to play.  For those of us who had captured the vision of that offering, we saw this white surprise as an opportunity for some serious frivolity. I couldn't get myself together soon enough to test out those possibilities for fun that I was imagining.  All the challenges in my life that I was presently dealing with, that normally kept me in bed until late morning, were covered by a blanket of white.  No sadness over a broken relationship, no worries about a major car bill, no problem of any kind could undo my enthusiasm for getting outside to that opportunity for pure joy.

In my hike in the snow, I sensed a stillness... a quiet that indicated a slowing down of the usual frantic pace of the world.  Very few foolish people dared to venture out in their cars on the roads that were hidden beneath 6 inches of crystalline snow.  And those that did were moving with cautious slowness.  All the imperfections of the landscape were transformed into a timeless image that looked more like a painting by Currier and Ives than my hometown of Eugene.   

"Wearing Boots" © 2013 by Carol E Fairbanks

The magic of this cold, white landscape landscape seemed to warm everyone's heart,  nurturing an atmosphere of community and connection.  Never in all my neighborhood walks have I had such fun talking with everyone I met.  Even this little dog, wearing his boots and coat, was beside himself with this invitation for winter amusement.  

Everyone I stopped to talk with smiled, as they shared their surprise of this unexpected playtime in the snow.  There were no complaints from those who embraced that adventure that brought forth memories from past of fun in the snow.  Because everything looked new and perfect in the sparking, white snow, we all felt the energy of that idea of perfection. We romped and trudged through the cold, white layer of snow like we were kids, who knew no limits. 

While I hiked about 6 challenging miles that day, I remembered the winter of 1954, when I was 11 years old.  I had woken up to a similar magical morning one day in the beginning of January, and was having an incredible amount of fun playing in the snow.  In the midst of that winter wonderland, and with my childhood belief in unlimited possibilities, I made a wish that it would snow until my birthday on January 30th.  Incredibly, it did!  And I had even more fun playing in the snow for a month, thinking that it was all for me!  I smiled as I thought of that time and realized that I was now feeling the same about my present snow adventure as I had so many years ago.

"Sensible Transportation" © 2013 ~ by Carol E Fairbanks

I met a couple who had just moved here from Alaska.  Needless to say, they felt right at home with the unusual winter weather that were having.  They sailed smoothly along the snow covered path, while I breathlessly struggled up that snowy hill. Wisdom is about choosing appropriate transportation!  And I added a pair of skis to my wish list for Christmas!

"A Taste of Red" © 2013 by Carol E Fairbanks

The birds also made themselves more visible that day on my trek in the snow. With a covering of white hiding his source of food,  this starling really appreciated the food put out in this bird feeding station.  Mmmmm.. juicy fruit in the middle of a snow storm! Not a bad breakfast! When someone shares and is generous, everyone benefits. This bird got a great breakfast and I got a good photo, thanks to one person's generosity!

"Sapsucker Search" by Carol E Fairbanks

In the midst of the stillness of the woods, a sapsucker flew hurriedly by and began an earnest search for his food from this tree. All of creation (with the exception of most people) knows that nature provides everything we need.  Luckily for us, the animals give us reminders of that true natural harmony that eludes many of us. They demonstrate for us that we all have that instinctive knowing of how to get what we need. It is only in our minds that we have left that "garden of Eden".

"Waiting" © 2013 by Carol E Fairbanks

But when its snowing and cold, it's nature's signal to slow down and listen.  It's time to contemplate the present moment and just "be" for a while.  It's a chance to experience yourself as a part of creation... complete within yourself, yet more understood as a part of the grand whole. If you take some time to wait and be still, you won't miss that wonderful new adventure that beckons you.  You won't be so busy or tired that when opportunity knocks, you do not hear it.  Yes, snow is nature's sign to pay attention by being quiet. This little junco seems to know what to do with this winter day.

So the winter of our lives teaches us the importance of being still at times.... of listening to the wisdom of nature ... of trusting in the goodness of creation.  Winter doesn't have to be harsh and unforgiving, if we know how to be in harmony with its gifts. My wonderful walk in the snow reminded me of these simple truths.  I wouldn't want the weather to be like this all the time, but for now I am enjoying my winter adventure. 

"If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant; if we did not sometimes taste adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome."  ~ Anne Bradstreet

"White on Red" © 2013 by Carol E Fairbanks