Hope - in the month of December

 The first week of Advent is focused on hope.  For faith traditions, Christmas signals the arrival of light to a world of darkness.  We're in the second week of Advent, and the focus is peace.  There is something peaceful when there is a snowfall overnight.  "A new day and a fresh start."  So reads the card.  Looking out after an evening of snowfall, after a week of daily snowfalls, one does not need to hope for a white Christmas as we have a very nice fresh coating of snow almost daily now.  "Every hour shimmers with promise and possibility."  If one lives in Saint Paul, the "possibility" of a snow plow coming to our neighborhood does sometimes seem more promise than possibility.  This week we have had daily 1 inch snowfalls, but the promise of a snow plow is based on a minimum of 3 inches of snowfall, not 3 days of 1 inch snowfalls.  However, hope springs eternal and we know that this too shall pass.  Now that we have had more than 3 inches in a single snowfall, we know our streets will get plowed eventually.  In the meantime, our overnight snow provides an excuse to either stay home and relax, or an opportunity to show your rugged Minnesotan can do attitude and embrace the winter in all its glory.  So whether you are seizing the day or retreating to a warm location in your abode to read or watch a movie, I will hope that you are able to enjoy everything that winter has to offer us today in a way that is most enjoyable for you.  Closing with a poem by Emily Dickinson.

“Hope” is the thing with feathers

By Emily Dickinson

“Hope” is the thing with feathers -

That perches in the soul -

And sings the tune without the words -

And never stops - at all -

And sweetest - in the Gale - is heard -

And sore must be the storm -

That could abash the little Bird

That kept so many warm -

I’ve heard it in the chillest land -

And on the strangest Sea -

Yet - never - in Extremity,

It asked a crumb - of me.