The Trinity of H2O

45 

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

                                Song of Azariah -- verses 45-50

This morning I cycled along the Bay of Quinte, not far from our home, and for the first time this Spring there was no ice that I could see, not even in the bays. We might get a skiff of ice on our now-full rain barrels overnight but the season of ice and cold is over until late this year and I'm glad. 

Still, three Sunday morning's ago we drove to the village of Battawa, just north of Trenton, Ontario, where there were four outdoor public rinks for skating and hockey. We had awakened early so we got there just after 7:30 AM to find that the Zamboni was just finishing the ice resurfacing. Within minutes Ruth had her skates on and was circling the pristine ice with no one else around. It was magical for her, as was another skate a few weeks ago on a cleared skating path along the Bay of Quinte. That day we skiied down the lake to the path with Ruth's skates in her backpack.

We had four or five weeks of unexpectedly cold weather this year, what we would have considered regular Winter weather in our youth. People here in Belleville embraced it, heading out on the Bay to ski, skate, fish, walk, and play hockey in droves. It was wonderful to see. 

I've already written about what a gift the "trinity" of water is, as solid, liquid and vapour. We can't take water for granted, in whatever form it takes. Ice is one of those miracles of the natural world which Canadians should celebrate. 

This actiivty made me think of a book by Canadian Helen Humphries called The Frozen Thames which explores the 40 recorded times the Thames River in London, England,has frozen through the centuries. In several of those years impromptu carnivals took place on the river. The last time the river was totally frozen was 1963, although a cold snap this Winter froze a portion. 

That early March skate was the last for Ruth and after that day temperatures began to climb and the rinks were closed. We managed to get in one more icy cross-country ski. 

And...on Tuesday I convinced Ruth to go for a paddle on the Moira River, which she conceded was lovely (she is tolerant of my madness.) To everything there is a season...