The Beauty & Harshness in Life

At times, the harshness of the season leaves me frowning and growling. 

Winter seems to wake up the uncomfortableness in me. The howling winds, the below-freezing temperatures of NY, and the drudging through so much snow, at times is challenging. There in its midst though, leaves me paralyzed with all its beauty. 

The sparkle of the freshly fallen snow leaves me feeling like I am walking in a field of diamonds. The richness of the season cannot be denied.

The peacefulness of everything is being blanketed and put away until spring. The birds seem to be sleeping, as their singing is silent. Winter impresses upon me, the poignancy of life, but also introduces, the beauty that can come from it. Maybe, that is why spring follows winter. 

Winter sleeps and spring awakens.

Interestingly in comparison, winter seems to have little mercy at times and spring has all kinds of mercy being born into the world. Everything in spring seems to awaken brand new. 

Lessons abound from my walks in nature. I feel I am being taught to be vigilant of my surroundings as they are speaking to me. Stepping into nature has this effect on me, and it lifts me into all other aspects of my life.

The bitterness of life at times is cruel, but it too seems to deliver beauty amid it all. We are living in tough times at present. The Covid-19 virus has taken hundreds of thousands of lives. All the shootings of late have been very scary. The Black Lives Matter movement is trying to get police reform. The thousands of kids crossing borders into the United States are getting out of harm’s way from their own country. 

Where could there possibly be beauty in all this harshness?

Nature has taught me that change can be hard. I growl about winter because it causes me discomfort. 

It got me thinking about what else in my life causes uncomfortableness. 

My thoughts immediately went to the fear of the unknown.

When I walk in the woods with my dog, I do not feel afraid, because I am not alone, which makes me feel at ease. 

I put my life at risk, when I am alone and step into the unknown, then I need to conjure up courage and faith that I will be OK. I get scared.  

At times, when I walk with others, I feel a connectedness and unity that gives me strength. It keeps me going forward to make things right for all of us. I can feel it as we walk in unison. 

I believe a season is being born of new beginnings, new appreciations, and a lot of unknowns that are brand new. It feels like all the troubles in our world are opening to a unique awareness. The harshness, like winter, is howling in our lives right now, but soon, I feel fresh beginnings, will be born. It will be an awesome life for all of us, that will take shape in a world that will be better than ever. 

As I looked upon Easter season, I know that Christ has risen from the tomb, and all things are possible. We too are rising in many ways. 

I believe we will take in the beauty and stomp out the harshness in life. Love, peace, and kindness will be shared with each other. A wonderful hug will no longer be impeded by the howling winds of uncomfortableness and the fears of the unknown. All will be well.

The harshness in life will have come full circle, opening doors to new beginnings, and life’s amazing beauty will come rushing in.