And then the sun came out. At last! I know it is not for long, and more storms are on the way soon. But an unexpected reprieve was granted for half of the day, and amazingly--magically--everything changed.
The cold, blustery fields covered in deep frozen snow,
uninviting and threatening, suddenly became sun-washed and glistened in the
light. I could imagine the grain that
would be growing there in a few months. The
animals came out for fresh air, albeit in their winter coats. The clouds broke up into tiny white
marshmallows, puffy and round, and engulfing them was a blue, blue sky, the
color of which was astonishing! Perhaps
it is just that I have seen white and gray for so long now that the blue amazed
me. The hawk came back again, too, and
sat on a branch only a few yards away from me, curious and casual. Even the chickens poked their heads out of
the coop to see what was afoot, staying wary and safe from the hawk.
And what was afoot?
Only the sun. His angle was
higher. I know the angle well, and it
was higher. He stayed longer than he
would have on a sunny day a month ago.
He felt warm and I knew he was getting stronger. Was it only yesterday that I despaired? Was it only yesterday that I hung my head in
grief and dread? How could I have forgotten
him so easily? He came back though, and
he brought a message: I am coming. Tell them I am coming.
There will be more storms and more darkness, to be sure, but
the Lord of Winter knows his time is short.
 |
| Horses enjoying a rare sunny winter day. |
