Do We Notice Winter?
Journal 2004 12 23
Do We Notice Winter?
The men anticipate Christmas on the prairie. They find great hospitality among the Mandans. Chief Little Crow and his wife come and bring corn and a special soup of vegetables for the men.
The temperature is 20 and a hunting party is out, as is usual.
Winter life is different than any other season and all the preparation and hard work have been measured and tested by the elements. The men have survived some of the coldest weather on the planet and appear to be prepared to continue on. And it is only December. What might January yet bring? We know now that this first winter among the friendly Mandans will contrast greatly with the rain-drenched winter among the Chinooks at the mouth of the Columbia River the following winter. The men will find the Chinooks to be a vile people, jaded by contact with traders, diseased and physically and morally repulsive to them.
They will find the Mandans extremely hospitable, generous and pure of heart. History records this winter as one filled with anticipation, hope and joy. Good preparation for the demanding journey to come.
Do we even notice winter? By that I mean in our climate-controlled world do we notice and allow the seasons to have any influence over our lives? Any of us could conceivably control our world to the point where the natural world has little influence over us. We could eat the same foods on a regular schedule, maintain constant temperature and humidity and regulate most of our body functions by medication.
Many corporate execs complain of the dull sameness in their worldwide travels where all hotels look the same, room temperature is just that and large meeting rooms have no windows, only movable walls, dimmed lights and the same Powerpoint messages projected on a screen.
God created us in a garden. A garden depends on seasons for processes to work on seeds that fruit may be born.
That pattern still exists.
Spring, seeds are planted in freshly tilled earth and rains bring germination and nubile growth.
Summer, growth has matured and signs of fruit begin to show. Heat and long days of sun work on the plants to bring the growth required for full growth of the fruit of the plant.
Fall, harvest of the fruit. Joy in the bounty. Provision for winter. Once the work of the harvest is complete preparations for the dormancy of winter begin.
Winter, dormancy. Marked by preparation for survival. Shelter, heat, food. Simple. Renewal through retreat. Dormant, not dead. Alive, yet appearing dead. Dormant.
I’m not suggesting that we move back to a frontier lifestyle. I do know that God’s simple patterns are for our purpose. His pattern is eternal.
Wall street analysts would always be looking for springtime and harvest. Hope for a bountiful harvest and the actual harvest. Some would allow for the work of the summer, the growth from planting to harvest. Most have no patience for the dormancy of winter when reflection, review, planning, pruning and preparation are considered but not acted upon because of real physical restraints.
Don’t know which season God brought first. Could make an argument for any of them.
What matters today is our place in the pattern.
Are we only planting?
Are we only growing?
Are we only bearing fruit?
Are we only dormant?
He calls us to His pattern. Let each of the seasons work their divine purposes in our lives.
Don’t let the constant press to bear fruit keep you from the process that results in an annual harvest of bounty.
Let the Holy Spirit plant, grow, harvest and hide you in His eternal seasons.
He created us in the garden intending for us to live in it. That is still His intention.
Do We Notice Winter?
The men anticipate Christmas on the prairie. They find great hospitality among the Mandans. Chief Little Crow and his wife come and bring corn and a special soup of vegetables for the men.
The temperature is 20 and a hunting party is out, as is usual.
Winter life is different than any other season and all the preparation and hard work have been measured and tested by the elements. The men have survived some of the coldest weather on the planet and appear to be prepared to continue on. And it is only December. What might January yet bring? We know now that this first winter among the friendly Mandans will contrast greatly with the rain-drenched winter among the Chinooks at the mouth of the Columbia River the following winter. The men will find the Chinooks to be a vile people, jaded by contact with traders, diseased and physically and morally repulsive to them.
They will find the Mandans extremely hospitable, generous and pure of heart. History records this winter as one filled with anticipation, hope and joy. Good preparation for the demanding journey to come.
Do we even notice winter? By that I mean in our climate-controlled world do we notice and allow the seasons to have any influence over our lives? Any of us could conceivably control our world to the point where the natural world has little influence over us. We could eat the same foods on a regular schedule, maintain constant temperature and humidity and regulate most of our body functions by medication.
Many corporate execs complain of the dull sameness in their worldwide travels where all hotels look the same, room temperature is just that and large meeting rooms have no windows, only movable walls, dimmed lights and the same Powerpoint messages projected on a screen.
God created us in a garden. A garden depends on seasons for processes to work on seeds that fruit may be born.
That pattern still exists.
Spring, seeds are planted in freshly tilled earth and rains bring germination and nubile growth.
Summer, growth has matured and signs of fruit begin to show. Heat and long days of sun work on the plants to bring the growth required for full growth of the fruit of the plant.
Fall, harvest of the fruit. Joy in the bounty. Provision for winter. Once the work of the harvest is complete preparations for the dormancy of winter begin.
Winter, dormancy. Marked by preparation for survival. Shelter, heat, food. Simple. Renewal through retreat. Dormant, not dead. Alive, yet appearing dead. Dormant.
I’m not suggesting that we move back to a frontier lifestyle. I do know that God’s simple patterns are for our purpose. His pattern is eternal.
Wall street analysts would always be looking for springtime and harvest. Hope for a bountiful harvest and the actual harvest. Some would allow for the work of the summer, the growth from planting to harvest. Most have no patience for the dormancy of winter when reflection, review, planning, pruning and preparation are considered but not acted upon because of real physical restraints.
Don’t know which season God brought first. Could make an argument for any of them.
What matters today is our place in the pattern.
Are we only planting?
Are we only growing?
Are we only bearing fruit?
Are we only dormant?
He calls us to His pattern. Let each of the seasons work their divine purposes in our lives.
Don’t let the constant press to bear fruit keep you from the process that results in an annual harvest of bounty.
Let the Holy Spirit plant, grow, harvest and hide you in His eternal seasons.
He created us in the garden intending for us to live in it. That is still His intention.
posted by @2007 Dick Cinkovich | 11:41 PM
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