The warmth of Winter…

Our culture tends to have a difficult relationship with the season of winter. Most view it as a reality that must be suffered through (or avoided) in order to make it to the more enjoyable months of the year. Recently I read a book which has shifted my perception of winter from a season frozen isolation, wherein people shuffle through mounds of snow like zombies through a post-apocalyptic wasteland, to something far more beautiful, communal and, dare I say it, warm.

This in turn has lead to my thinking a lot lately about what happens when we fully engage the hardships of life rather than simply avoiding them. I’m not just talking about winter anymore. What happens when we eschew the path of least resistance? What is the end result for people who try harder in their work, their play, their relationships with each other and their relationships with God? What does Christ’s example teach us about taking the hard road?

If you’re intrigued come in from the cold this Sunday morning and join us. We’ll have coffee waiting.

Tim (Penner)