A Story of Hope

“How many lessons of faith and beauty we should lose, if there were no winter in our year!” ~ Thomas Wentworth Higginson

A few years ago in February, my friend and I visited several state parks along Lake Superior. We layered up with as many pairs of socks as we could fit under our boots and we hit the trails. If you have ever had the pleasure of visiting Minnesota, you know this is a bitterly cold time of the year to go hiking. However, it was absolutely worth it! We saw waterfalls, rivers, and caves that were frozen over. It was breathtaking to behold! 

Even more amazing was when we paused to look closely at the frozen nature around us. As we climbed hills and wandered around still rivers, we noticed, underneath a layer of ice, water was still flowing. There were areas where we could see rushing water breaking through or strong currents racing under sheets of ice. These were powerful, majestic bodies of water, but because of the extreme conditions around them, they could not show the full potential of their power. Just for this season. 

This example from nature invites us to remember: Water continues to flow beneath the surface. Spring will come. Warm air and light will bring a new energy, break the barriers of ice, and invite new life into the rushing rivers. In the midst of our current season, we too are reminded that we will see progress and life in the work we do. We trust all things will melt, grow, and bloom in due time. And even in the waiting, beauty is still revealed in the world around us now.