Transformations are powerful, and they are part of the sacred journey of life. In both the physical and spiritual worlds, transformations usually take quite a bit of time and rarely happen overnight. However, there is always an exception in everything, and in this regard it is called SNOW!
I love Snow and I love evening Snow Storms! The quiet stillness, the crisp cool air, and even the crunching sound that comes from the snow compressing under my feet, are all part of the joy that I derive from the Winter Season. One of my favorite winter experiences is to fall asleep to a somewhat dark and dreary world, and then wake up to see a magnificent Winter Wonderland! For me, this is nothing short of magic and why I refer to this as the Magic of Snow!
I love finding inspiration from Nature, so I started asking myself the following question:
“If a simple accumulation of snowflakes can transform vast fields, forests, mountains and neighborhoods, then could there possibly be something in our human experience that might have a similar effect? Something that we could do or say that might be able to magically transform the human pain and suffering that is a part of our emotional winters?”
Then I began reflecting on what I might call my own personal winter.
It was March of 2021, a hit and run ski accident confined my life to the space that I could navigate between a hospital bed and the workings of a wheelchair. During these weeks and months my life could best be described as a challenging. I could not manage even the basics of life without the help of my family, friends, nurses and neighbors. I was in a state of complete dependency, and began looking for the promised Silver Lining. In hindsight, I recognize I had never before experienced such an amazing outpouring of human kindness. People from all parts of my life came forward and sincerely offered their help. It seemed that every day either a phone call, card, email, flower, gift, visit or home-cooked meal lifted my spirits in a way that is beyond measure. These small and individual acts were welcomed gifts that carried the heartfelt message of “I care, and I Love you.” Daily they Transformed my Inner World, and Collectively they transformed me. And so I ask…
Are simple Acts of Kindness our human counterpart to the Magic of Snow? Could each loving word or deed be like a snowflake, and collectively they have the power to blanket our personal winters with moments of Beauty and Grace?
Nature demonstrates that Snow and Winter Wonderlands do not erase the harshness of Winter, nor do they accelerate the arrival of Spring. However for many, these experiences of Beauty and Wonderment help us to find relief in an otherwise long and dreary Winter. And so I suggest that the same might be true for Acts of Kindness. These deeds certainly do not take away the problems or struggles of our personal winters, however they can offer us the opportunity to experience the Joy, Gratitude and Transformation that comes from knowing that someone cares!