Hidden Hope

Cement gray and cold like a cellar.
Drops driven to the ground by an unrelenting wind.
Streams teaming with melt and foam.
Mustard yellow grass and charcoal tinted piles of snow linger.
Naked trees shutter in the absence of the sun.
Spirits yearning for renewal and hope.


Honkers chattering above raise one's eyes upward.
The orchestra of the wild filling the air.
Buds developing beyond our vision.
Turf thawing, yet hidden from our gaze.
Day light lingering more each day.
Tulip buds awaiting their turn.


Death has held it's grip long enough.
Life and new birth are preparing to reign.
Postures will straighten and coats will be shed.
The trees will be clothed in their spring time splendor.
Spring is the best time of the year.
Have hope, don't fret, it will be here before you know it, I bet!

Perspectives

One of the classes that I am taking this quarter is "Epistemology." Many may know what that is immediately, but for those who do not, simply put it is, "how we know what we know." In class we talk about empiricism and the value of experience in forming justified true beliefs, but I want to talk about our personal perspectives and our own understanding of various assertions. Minnesota, like most of the country, is going through another arctic chill that has sent the mercury well below zero. So I have been thinking about how we define cold. This same type of question ruminated in my mind when I lived in Elephant Butte New Mexico many summers ago. So what is cold and what is hot? My friends who live south of the Mason Dixon line cannot even fathom what -25 windchill feels like, yet here I was this morning out running in it and feeling pretty good. On the other hand, there are those who have never experienced 115 degree heat and cannot comprehend what that temperature would feel like. The great thing that I have been pondering over the past couple of weeks is that our understanding of "cold" is able to change depending on our exposure to certain climates. Those living in Hawaii think that 60 degrees requires a sweatshirt, but us Minnesotans are wearing shorts and t-shirts if the thermometer hits 60 in March or April. Our bodies adapt to the temperatures that we are exposed to and change our perspective as we experience extreme temperatures one way or another. Is 15 degrees cold? Absolutely, but does not feel nearly as cold when you have been living with sub-zero temps day after day. This concept has great application in our personal lives and how we understand various sins. The more we are exposed to a compromising situation or activity the more we accept it as normative and worthy of our participation. Our minds ability to centrize various positions and classifications of things that are or are not permissible or acceptable for their participation. What are somethings that we have thought were "bad" or "unacceptable" at one point or another, but as we have been around them more we have loosed the negative classification? Just some thoughts on our perspectives.

The right equipment.

Minnesota has been engulfed in winter for months now and we are looking at highs below zero later this week. It does not matter how cold it gets up here, you will always see some "crazy person" out running or riding their bike. The vast majority of people look at these people and mock, scoff, or just shake their heads in disbelief. I know this, because I used to be one of those people. All of this changed two years ago when I became the "crazy person" out running in the deep freeze. My passion for running has not changed over the past two year, but the equipment has. The key to running in the bitter cold, or blistering hot for that matter, is the right gear. I am a frugal person by nature, and struggle paying over $30 for a pair of jeans, but when it comes to running tights I don't even blink at a $60 price tag. I know the value of having the right equipment when you are participating in recreational activities. Sweat pants and sweat shirts will keep you warm out on a winter run, but is the absolute worst thing that you can wear and will end up leaving you frustrated and questioning your commitment to the sport. I learned long ago that paying a little extra for recreational equipment pays off in the long run and will inevitably revolutionize your experience. Whether you are camping, skiing, sailing, running, or canoeing, the wrong equipment can ruin your experience. The next time that you see the "crazy person" out running in the arctic conditions don't judge, just remember that it could be you out there with the right equipment. There is a time and a place to pinch those pennies, it is not when it comes to getting the right gear. So head for the sale rack, wear your jeans a little longer, or give some plasma, but don't go cheap on gear or you will be caught in the rain wishing you hadn't!

Snow vs. Sand

I discovered yesterday that I enjoy creating objects out of snow much more than creating things out of sand. I know, I know, sand equals warm beach, but thirty degrees is really not that cold. So hear me out. Snow lends itself to ease of sculpting while also allowing you to roll it up like a piece of carpet. You can create a MASSIVE snowball in a short period of time by simply packing a snowball and then rolling it over other wet snow. In addition, your sand creations do not last much beyond a day, but if it is cold enough your snow sculptures can last for days and even weeks. Snow is lighter than sand which lends itself to shoveling without breaking ones back. I would like to see you scoop an equivalent amount of sand and snow and see how you feel. Snow means Christmas, which means family, friends, and food. I love the snow and have discovered that it is a far superior medium than sand when it comes to sculpting. Did I mention that snow doesn't chafe when it gets down your pants?