Bless the Lord, Frosts and Snows

George Lake Killarney Provincial Park

Bless the Lord, winter cold and summer heat,
    sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
46 Bless the Lord, dews and snows,
    sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
47 Bless the Lord, nights and days,
    sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
48 Bless the Lord, light and darkness,
    sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
49 Bless the Lord, ice and cold,
    sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
50 Bless the Lord, frosts and snows,
    sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.

The Song of Azariah vss 46-50

In recent years we've heard about "Blue Monday" the mid-January day which is supposedly the saddest in the year. It is referring to the winter blahs, or blues, and must be a Northern Hemisphere phenomenon given that it is summer in the Southern Hemisphere. It turns out that Blue Monday was the marketing invention of a British travel company based on pseudo-science to ascertain the most depressing day of the year. Presumably we're all supposed to book our trips to sunnier climes to counteract the harmful effects of winter.

 

Actually, even though Blue Monday is short on facts it has prompted discussion about mental health which is good, especially since there is a Let's Talk focus later in the month. Since this is a "grounded" spiritual blog I would add that choosing not to hibernate during these months is essential to wholeness in body, mind, and spirit. We try to get outside several times a week for walks and other forms of exercise as reminders of the goodness of Creation in all seasons. I was able to cycle last week on a mild day, and yesterday and today we will cross-country ski. 

Ontario Parks tweets often about the mental health benefits of time spent in nature. I would add that as created beings we are meant to go outside, to experience the blue and green and white gifts of the Creator, including -- yes -- the cold of winter!

I hope no residents of the Avalon Peninsula in Newfoundland read this. After the weekend blizzard they will be offering up more curses than blessings...