Today my son and I drove into the city. It is unually cold here in Pittsburgh, even for January. I believe that they are calling this a "polar vortex". The kids don't have school tomorrow because the wind chills will be somewhere around minus 30. Everyone is complaining. They complain about the snow. They complain about the cold. They complain that their cars are dirty. They complain that the kids are off. They complain that heating bills are too high. I saw a man today that was not complaining however. He was standing bundled and huddled on a corner holding a styrofoam cup with a gloved hand and pleading eyes.
One of the reasons that St. Angela Merici is a saint is because she saw. She saw what God needed her to do, she went to see the holy relics, she went out and saw the needy on the streets. . . .and she was blind. She did not see with eyes, but with her heart.
Maybe this is a time to see with our hearts. As we sip our hot chocolate and see what is on Netflix, maybe pick up your Ipad and make a donation to Operation Safety Net or Catholic Charities, shovel a driveway for a neighbor, call a lonely relative, spend some extra time in prayer or even play a board game with your kids.
Maybe a polar vortex is not just a lack of heat, but also a lack of heart.
Monday, January 27, 2014
Saturday, January 25, 2014
Winter Day
Today it is January 25 in Western Pennsylvania. It is about 10 degrees and has been snowing all day.
You might not thing that this is anything unusual for this state, but we currently have more snow on the ground right now than we had all last winter combined. But you know what? I love it.
I love it when the world has to slow down. I love having a house full of laughing teenagers. The air is filled with the smell of pizza rolls and chocolate cake. It was not for the snow today and having to slow down and stay home, my senses would not be currently filled with the sounds, sights and smells of home.
This day will live in my memory for a long time. I hope too, my teenagers and their friends will remember spending a snowy winter day at the Dillon's and eating homemade chocolate cake and laughing.
As with anything, it's all in how you look at it.
You can say what you want about the winter, the snow and the cold. But I'll take it and embrace it. Days like this are a true gift and I for one, am thankful.
You might not thing that this is anything unusual for this state, but we currently have more snow on the ground right now than we had all last winter combined. But you know what? I love it.
I love it when the world has to slow down. I love having a house full of laughing teenagers. The air is filled with the smell of pizza rolls and chocolate cake. It was not for the snow today and having to slow down and stay home, my senses would not be currently filled with the sounds, sights and smells of home.
This day will live in my memory for a long time. I hope too, my teenagers and their friends will remember spending a snowy winter day at the Dillon's and eating homemade chocolate cake and laughing.
As with anything, it's all in how you look at it.
You can say what you want about the winter, the snow and the cold. But I'll take it and embrace it. Days like this are a true gift and I for one, am thankful.
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