Advent is meant to be a time of watching and waiting, and in the northland, it is. The stillness of a frozen lake or a ski trail through the woods permeates our lives. Can you sense the deep silence of Clearwater Lake?
Snow muffles sound, but also this time of year feels like one in which all of nature is hunkering down, pulling into its roots.
Cross country skiing, snow showing, hiking--these are all meditative sports--one foot in front of the other--deepening life.
We see beautiful sunrises over the big lake (and the sun comes up so late you don't need to worry about sleeping through them!) Watching day come in reds and pinks...
Town is very quiet...no problem getting parking places...or with the hype of a city before Christmas.
My daughter said to me yesterday that she was going to the Mall of America...and I found myself thinking...there could hardly be anything further from what we live in Advent in Grand Marais, than a mall before Christmas.
On this, the longest night of the year, the sun sets early and gives us another lovely painting of blood red good-byes, and the welcome of a deep, starry night.
I'm ready for Christ to be born anew this year.
