Winter Sketches: To Dread of Winter

Last Updated on August 1, 2016 by Patrick

Perplexity is the beginning of knowledge.

Khalil Gibran

Some like winter, but others are afraid of it. Cometh not the snow, cometh lest the frost or the blizzard! But everyone likes to make snowmen.

To dread of winter is to run from your own knapsack that is on your back. People like to go to the mountains in winter only to hike a little, ski, lounge at the chalet.. comforts, all sorts of comforts and fun. There’s nothing wrong with fun, but there’s everything wrong with starring at the mountain while an enormous blizzard is happening on its ranges and dread. Dread and chill on your back at the thought of it, at the thought of the blizzard blasting wind and snow in its own war of the elements on the high peaks.

Looking for comforts is needed for recovery, for pause, preparation for the human activities that are coming. Let’s not look with dread, like the dread of winter, frost, blizzard or chill, at the thought of what is yet to come, what we should do! I think that there are no doubts as there are no debts. I think that people believe in something and give their best with love in everything they do.

People know what they came here for, what they have to do, or best said, what they need to do. Some people criticize the president of the country for doing things the wrong way, only to give us a sign that they know what needs to be done. But nobody removes the incompetent president of the country only to take his or her place and do the right thing. Everyone is only barking and not biting. Chattering is not knowledge, for chatter it is this endless talk about what’s wrong with the country, with the president, what does or doesn’t he or she do and what is wrong with people and how many ugly, bad and/or stupid people are here in our country. Pointing fingers at each other means that someone else is to blame for our wrongdoings. Why not change our wrongdoings into rightdoings first, and then..?

Anyway, winter is here, and is here not to stay. Have you ever wondered why there is less snow in our country? I believe its not only our country affected, but others as well. But have you ever wondered why there’s so much chatter in the world and less action? Have you ever wondered why in some places, in some countries, there are more people who don’t reflect upon anything anymore, at all, who don’t meditate at all? Do you think that snow is not necessary?

There is a nostalgia in some people who say that they miss the snowy days of old, the long months of winter. I, too, miss those. There used to be not three but four or five months of genuine winter with snow and all. But not anymore. We are in February and already spring knocks on our door.

But have you ever wondered if there’s any connection between the lack of meditation and less snow and winter? I believe that there is. People are more active and less reflective and have less days of pause and retreat and winter comes very little to us, only to give us a few days of snow and many days of autumn or spring temperatures and lots of sun. And when they retreat, they are still active, not having any break at all. Even when they sleep are still active in their minds, are thinking continuously. But these are some people and there are others who are different from them.

There are the others who take action when is needed and take a break when is needed. They know how to live and know what they do. They know themselves at least to some extent.

They don’t dread of winter, but only know how to profit from it. They don’t sadden when they see the blizzard coming or the vast snows being cast down upon the earth, but they look at the full part of the glass, so to speak, and think of ways to have fun and enjoy winter in all its glory, afterwards. These are the people who know how to get out of the sticky situations that may appear at times. They don’t fall victims of any defeatism whatsoever. Fatalism and the crippling of their Soul with incapability doesn’t exist in their minds. They think free and they are free.

Winter is not dreadful. But what is dreadful is the way we see it. We cast a dreadful image upon it.