Snow-covered Morning

Meditation by Rev. Diane Rollert, 13 December 2009

Snow-covered morning,
the sun rises pale pink
fading into a light grey sky.
The star wheel has finally turned
and true winter approaches.

How will we prepare our hearts?
We come with so many expectations
for the season,
We come with so many expectations
for life,
as if all could be perfect,
as if we could have control.
Yet change comes. 
It always comes.
The cold arctic wind comes,
the seasons change.
And still, we are surprised.

Sometimes we forget to give thanks
for the simplest gifts.
We forget to open the door to the stranger
and welcome in the unexpected.

We get caught up in our own worries.
We get caught up in our own denial.
Yet winter comes, 
and if we listen
we can hear it beaconing us 
to slow down,
to come inside
to find warmth,
to see the warmth of our breath
as it meets the cold air.

There is a world to change,
there are dreams to dream,
there is so much to do,
and yet , if but for a moment,
we could let go of all expectations
and simply be
together
breathing, loving,
filled with gratitude for what is,
excepting what will be,
opening ourselves to possibility.

Blessed are you, oh cold winter wind.
Blessed are you, oh cycle of life and death,
of beginnings and endings,
of change,
of bright lights shining in the darkness .
May we give thanks for hope and simple gifts.