Compass Corner

Dear Compass Checkers,

As I write this letter, we are expecting a big winter storm this weekend. It seems we will likely have to cancel in-person services for the second time in a row. While that thought might be a bummer, a hefty layer of snow on the ground brings out a few thoughts I’d like to share.

As a young person, I always enjoyed the snow for the fun it brought—days off school, sledding, building igloos, snowball fights, etc. To be honest, I still love doing those things, even though I’m long out of school. The challenge is, I don’t have any good hills to sled on and we rarely get enough snow where I live to build an igloo. Fortunately, my wife loves a good spirited snowball fight, so at least there’s still that.

Beyond those things, what I love about a good, heavy snow is the sense of calm and refreshing it brings. You never really notice how much noise the rustling of leaves makes until a blanket of snow mutes that noise. And if you have a full moon and a clear night after a good snow, the way the moon reflects on the pure, white canvas of snow lights up the night to create a beautiful and surreal scene.

Why do I share all this? It was tempting for me to talk about the coming spring with flowers popping up, birds chirping and the signs of new life and growth everywhere. But in doing so, I would have rushed past an opportunity to reflect on enjoying the winter. My point is simply this—enjoy every season. Not just of the year, but of life. As a young person in the springtime, or when you are an old man or woman in winter, take time and enjoy every beautiful moment our loving Father presents us with.

Dan Preston

Editor of Compass Check magazine