Many Canadians seek “escape” at this time of year by heading to places where the sun is bright and the temperatures are warm. Me, I like winter! I am blessed to live in an area of the country where snow comes and stays (although this year it was slow in coming and we had a couple of false before it settled in to look like read winter).
Yesterday I had to drive north of town for a meeting in a rural community hall. For local readers I was driving up #4 – that is the extension of our main street through town. The road slices across wetlands and winds through rock-cuts and at every turn offers up awe-inspiring scenes of natural beauty. Recently we had snow, followed by rain, followed by snow. The result is that the branches of the tree are piled with snow and small drifts cling everywhere. I arrived to the meeting a bit late and I explained my tardiness by telling the others that the scenery was so stunningly beautiful I just had to drive slowly and appreciate it. All agreed and I was forgiven!
At this time of year I often like to muse over a hymn that we don’t sing often but when we do I call it the cross-country ski hymn. It speaks of the quiet majesty of winter. Enjoy the words to this hymn written by Frances Whitmarsh Wile in 1911.
All beautiful the march of days, as seasons come and go
The hand that shaped the rose has wrought the crystal of the snow,
has sent the silvery frost of heaven, the flowing waters sealed,
and laid a silent loveliness on hill and wood and field.
O’er white expanses sparkling pure the radiant morn unfolds
the solemn splendours of the night burn brighter through the cold,
life mounts in every throbbing vein, love deepens round the hearth,
and clearer sounds the angel hymn, good will to all on earth.
Lovely, and nice to read after a snowshoe in the forrest in this evening’s crepuscular light. I hope we can sing this some sunday soon.