Joy Comes in the Morning

I’ve been teaching kids in nature for more than 15 years, but last night I brooded over the weather forecast: rain turning into snow in the early hours, and then back to 100% rain. A very cold, hammering wet day to be expected. Not what I enjoy, as the day ends up being a struggle - kids and myself alike - to keep warm and in good cheer in the midst of everything wet, and a chill that can sneak in no matter how well you dress for the weather. A fire under our tarp helps for sure, and enjoying forest tea and a good story. Still, the week has been long, and I’ll be teaching outdoors tomorrow too …

Fast forward to this morning and that quiet whiteness beyond the drapes. Could it be …? Yes!

I have lived most of my life in places where snow is a wish, or makes only a short-lived appearance. With our warm winter, I’d given up on the idea of snow on the Island this year. But, snow can fall unexpectedly anytime in the spring, even into May. And here it is, in full, soft, and thick-flaked beauty.

All of you who live in areas with snow will probably laugh at the fact that on our Island we pivoted with a single snowy day, but snow gear needs to wake up in these parts, and some of us don’t have four-wheel drive or even very good tires. The country roads and lanes, already interesting with the recent heavy rains and wind - fallen branches for instance - obtain another of layer of question mark when hidden by snow.

It is said that God gives grace every single day to each one of us. I like to imagine that he sends something special, like an unexpected gift. Sometimes, you have to head out on a reflective treasure hunt, and look carefully back through your day to discern the grace that moved with you here … and there … and there.

Other times, the grace is an obvious and undeserved gift that you unwrap with eager hands, experience with a “wow,” or a sense of awestruck humility. Forgiveness (someone of me, and me of another) feels very much to me to be a gift of grace.

And, while I experience this snowfall as a personal gift (thank you, thank you!), I do hope others are finding it to be a gift too!

Here are a few glimpses of the gift for me:

In all this unexpected open time, I dug up one of my “snow” stories and music to share with the kids I teach. And then I recalled a song I wrote that is all about the joy of an out-of-the-blue snowfall. I’ll share them with you too!

You’ll need to click the links to enjoy them.

The Bear King’s Lullaby - This is a story I tell with the harp. It is based on and includes a beautiful song, “Binwag’s Lullaby,” in which a mother bear sings to her cubs of the long winter and the spring to come. The song was written by my harp duo partner, Deb Knodel, and was set to the melody, “Binwag’s Lullaby,” by our friend, Celtic guitarist, Steve Baughman. Deb sings the lead vocals, and she plays the nylon-strung Celtic harp, and I play wire-strung harp.

Snow on the Summit - As I recall, the lyrics were inspired during a drive home from Santa Cruz in northern California, through the Santa Cruz mountains. Deb plays a gothic harp on this one, and I play a nylon-strung Celtic harp and sing.

What grace has appeared for you today?

Glory to God for all things!