Faith, Fire and

The world seems to be asleep, and at peace.

But, of course, neither is true, just an idle observation as I gaze out from my ice encrusted window.

The snow is packed against the eight rectangular glass panes, allowing just a glimpse of the magnificent wonderland in the horizon.

The little bench in the courtyard is almost totally covered having nothing to shield it from the quilt of snow flakes that have fallen for over a week.

There are no footsteps on the path.

And the weather channel informs me the temperature outside these walls is well below zero.

I cannot remember encountering such a long period of frigid weather before on my life’s journey.

What I find not only amazing, but reassuring about humanity, is the resilience of the local population who maintain as much normalcy as humanly possible.

If I look in the distance, I see the hospital complex and the traffic to the employee parking lot is moving, slowly, but steadily.

Yesterday a young cosmetician in the residential spa mentioned she has four children, all under the age of six. She drives them to Day Care in order not to miss a day’s employment.

I haven’t counted heads, but apparently, a full staff has arrived daily to care for the diverse needs of the 100 plus residents. Three meals have been served daily, and the variety of the extensive menu has not diminished.

As a recent newcomer to the Midwest, I wonder how do they do it?

I, of course, stay indoors, and unless an emergency arises, will continue to do so. No, not until spring. I am not that much of a wimp, but until there is a plus sign in front of the temperature readings.

I am comfortable, relatively so; yet admittedly, just a wee bit frightened by the formidable forces of nature.

I have traveled extensively; but I have never before lived in an environment for any length of time that has such severe weather. And I wonder how I would have coped.

Would I have become a recluse, hiding in a corner and relinquishing the God given joys that have been allotted me? Or would I have found the inner resources that allow humanity to continue despite adverse circumstances?

Then I remember the power of belief; a faith infused in all of us that endures, but sometimes is hidden. We might call it by a different name, and admittedly, there are diverse road signs along assorted paths, but eventually they all merge.

Our belief system, or a/k/a Faith, often becomes dormant, yet it remains intact until needed. Then we permit it to show us the meaning of survival.

This morning as I looked out at the magnificent trauma of a world frozen by a coverlet of ice, I saw more than just weather.

I questioned if perhaps the world has been told to “Cool down.”

And I found hope that despite the heated fury of the political arena, the fiery voices on social media, as well as the current divisions about morality choices; all the beliefs our beautiful country was founded on will still prevail.