Snowed again today.
It's stopped now and the sun is shining. But all morning and into early afternoon the air was full of big flakes, and a thick, fluffy fresh blanket of white was being laid upon the earth.
Today I loved it. It looked beautiful. It was easy to shovel. It was such a nice day to be outside. The snow was a wondrous excuse to get some exercise on a gorgeous day.
But I also know it was terrible for commuters; I saw the traffic reports. Bad too for people with mobility issues; not many at the seniors' gym this morning. And not good for people on the streets, the homeless, the vulnerable.
So I wonder about that little voice inside me that feels such an immediate need in most situations to evaluate and judge whether something is good or bad.
It all depends, doesn't it?
And maybe the real question in most situations -- today's snow included, is not whether it's good or bad, but what it calls from me.
Today I loved the snow, so I went out in it, cleaned off the car and drove to the gym, came home and shovelled the sidewalk and street, and loved every minute of it. I felt blessed and gave thanks.
And when I think about the people inconvenienced or even threatened by the snow, what's to stop me from doing something to help them -- from showing love in some way? Like contributing to a mission that brings sandwiches and new socks to people on the street. Or like also shovelling the sidewalk (and it's a corner lot -- a lot of sidewalk) of the woman who lives next door, is older than me, and for the health of her heart should not be shovelling?
So I wonder. Maybe the question in most situations of life is not at all, is it good or bad? Maybe the better question that makes more sense is rather, what does it mean and what are the possibilities in this situation for me to be a person of love -- to feel loved and to show love to others?
The question of good and bad is impossible. The question of how I feel loved and how I can show love to others really does seem much better.
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