My father once said, while we were talking about the weather: “Don’t forget who the weatherman is.” It’s God of course. I knew that but I didn’t always think
about it. Now that I do, complaining
about the weather no longer feels as benign as it once did. God sends us our weather, so I
try to embrace it these days. This year has been especially challenging in North Dakota with 3 winter
storms already—2 of them blizzards—and temperatures that will freeze your face
in less time than it takes to scrape ice off a windshield.
If
you also are prone to weather complaining, perhaps my strategies at being weather
resilient will be of interest.
you also are prone to weather complaining, perhaps my strategies at being weather
resilient will be of interest.
Alternatives to Complaining
·
I think about the homesteaders and Native Americans that
lived in North Dakota before me. Sod homes, leaky cabins, earthen mounds with
bark trim, no furnaces, or indoor plumbing, or bathrooms, or wash machines, or
electricity, or supermarkets …. I live like a queen.
I think about the homesteaders and Native Americans that
lived in North Dakota before me. Sod homes, leaky cabins, earthen mounds with
bark trim, no furnaces, or indoor plumbing, or bathrooms, or wash machines, or
electricity, or supermarkets …. I live like a queen.
·
I appreciate my comforts and remember (and pray) for the less
fortunate throughout the world.
I appreciate my comforts and remember (and pray) for the less
fortunate throughout the world.
·
I tell myself how glad I am that I don’t live in Siberia. I
suppose they tell themselves they are glad they don’t live in North Dakota,
I tell myself how glad I am that I don’t live in Siberia. I
suppose they tell themselves they are glad they don’t live in North Dakota,
·
I ski or go for walks.
I will not be intimidated! Snow shoveling is a good workout too!
I ski or go for walks.
I will not be intimidated! Snow shoveling is a good workout too!
·
Exercise. When my daughter Mary called me last night to meet
her at the YMCA to exercise together, it was below 0. I said yes because a mother/daughter fitness
date beats hiding under the covers.
Exercise. When my daughter Mary called me last night to meet
her at the YMCA to exercise together, it was below 0. I said yes because a mother/daughter fitness
date beats hiding under the covers.
·
I think of all the things that North Dakota winters protect
me from: hurricanes, earthquakes, killer
bees, cobras, humongous insects, African man-eating animals…the list goes on and on!
I think of all the things that North Dakota winters protect
me from: hurricanes, earthquakes, killer
bees, cobras, humongous insects, African man-eating animals…the list goes on and on!
·
Extreme weather gives me something to offer up. Why would
anyone live in a place that provides no weather-related graces?
Extreme weather gives me something to offer up. Why would
anyone live in a place that provides no weather-related graces?
·
I thank God for the hardiness North Dakota winters infuse in
me. I stand with my proud, weatherproof
comrades. Okay, maybe I’m a bit too proud, like when I laugh at the
South for school closures after an inch of snow. I understand they have bad tires and no snow
shovels or stamina, or store of weather-related graces.
I thank God for the hardiness North Dakota winters infuse in
me. I stand with my proud, weatherproof
comrades. Okay, maybe I’m a bit too proud, like when I laugh at the
South for school closures after an inch of snow. I understand they have bad tires and no snow
shovels or stamina, or store of weather-related graces.
·
I begin my day with Mass and remain for adoration. It is an uplifting start to my day,
receiving Jesus in the company of other Catholics—probably over 300 at
Cathedral of the Holy Spirit every morning between the 6:45 and 8:00 AM Masses.
I begin my day with Mass and remain for adoration. It is an uplifting start to my day,
receiving Jesus in the company of other Catholics—probably over 300 at
Cathedral of the Holy Spirit every morning between the 6:45 and 8:00 AM Masses.
·
I remind myself it could always be worse. But sometimes, then
it gets worse so I don’t do that very often.
I remind myself it could always be worse. But sometimes, then
it gets worse so I don’t do that very often.
Even
for North Dakota, we’ve had extreme weather this year. If you are from here, you will relate to the
photos. If you are from somewhere else, I’m
guessing you will soon be putting a “for sale” sign in front of your house and
looking for jobs. Just remember to
dress in layers and bring a shovel.
for North Dakota, we’ve had extreme weather this year. If you are from here, you will relate to the
photos. If you are from somewhere else, I’m
guessing you will soon be putting a “for sale” sign in front of your house and
looking for jobs. Just remember to
dress in layers and bring a shovel.
ByDecember, there were three winter storms, two of them blizzards. We’ve had 53.1 inches of snow so far. Over Christmas vacation, I went out at midnight
and shoveled a path. It was a lot of work
but there was no way for the dogs to leave the house otherwise, and dogs need to
leave the house. By morning, all my
hard work was covered over.
 |
| See my path? It was gone by morning. |
 |
 |
| Mark is pointing to our light post. |
My husband and I skied to Mass a few mornings when the side streets
were still impassable. Mark loves the
snow. One particularly bad morning, he
took snowshoes to Mass. There were only 3 people who had showed up.
were still impassable. Mark loves the
snow. One particularly bad morning, he
took snowshoes to Mass. There were only 3 people who had showed up.
 |
| Around 7:30 AM my skis await me. |
 |
| Cathedral of the Holy Spirt |
Getting
to Mass to start my day and staying for adoration gets me through whatever
comes next.
to Mass to start my day and staying for adoration gets me through whatever
comes next.
 |
| Incense greets the morning sun and Son. |
Here
are some of the neighbors’ houses on my ski home from church.
are some of the neighbors’ houses on my ski home from church.
 |
| Our neighbors are in there somewhere. |
We
are running out of places to put the snow, so maybe God will blow the next
batch South.
are running out of places to put the snow, so maybe God will blow the next
batch South.
~~~~~~~~~
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