When I lived in Minneapolis/St. Paul, I learned how to endure and enjoy extreme cold by watching the natives. A fuzzy hat, substantial scarf, large warm coat, thick leather mittens with wool inserts and big ugly boots are vital in surviving frigid weather. I moved there one December (not the smartest time to arrive) and in January there were ads for the St. Paul Winter Carnival, held since 1886. One of the major attractions was a huge carved ice palace. I thought, “Are these people crazy?” An outdoor festival when it’s frigid?! People pay to participate in this?! It didn’t take long for me to understand that if they didn’t host outdoor events people would stay inside, climbing the walls. Outdoor activities brought folks together and created community.
Solidarity was also born when neighbors helped one another get their cars out of snow drifts and running. I didn’t have a garage and one morning my car was surrounded by snow and it was likely icy underneath the tires. People I hadn’t met helped me rock the car, pushed it and yelled, “Floor it!” I did and I got to my job that day because of them. Once at work everyone commiserated about the weather. “How long did it take you to get here?” “Which side of the street can we park on legally today?” “What was the temperature when you left your house?” Kinship born out of shared survival. Even though I love winter, this year it’s wearing on me. It helps to remind myself of the ways God breaks through my winter weariness: my husband doing most of the shoveling; the warm camaraderie with others braving the freezing wind; and the wonderment of piled high snow and sun streaming around me. Author: Mary Beth Sarhatt
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AuthorsBetty Segerdahl is a Diplomat of Pastoral Science, Certified Holistic Health Practitioner, Reiki Master Teacher and Spiritual Coach. She specializes in Energy Medicine, and also has a background in Psychology, Human Growth & Development and Holistic Health. Archives
September 2016
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