“Cold and chill, bless the Lord.
Dew and rain, bless the Lord.
Frost and chill, bless the Lord.
Ice and snow, bless the Lord…”
–Daniel 3:45-50

These words may have come readily to the three youths in the fiery furnace, but I utter them with difficulty as I sit shivering on the bleachers in the chilly gym during Lauds. I dread winter. I endure it, but I do not enjoy it. Each spring, when I sink my hands into the fertile soil of my gardens, I experience a visceral connection with God. Watching a plant spring up from a tiny seed, the visible growth as the plant matures, the endless variety of colors, flowers, fruits that are produced as the plant matures, and nourishing my family with the fruits of the harvest. I can easily see God in this process. Resurrection. New Life. Growth. Easy.

I do not experience this same reaction when I am shoveling snow, or even when I see the beauty of snow frosting the bare limbs of the trees in my yard. I only see “cold,” and I feel claustrophobic. I recognize this as a deficiency in myself. If I know that God is the Creator of all things, and that all He created is good, very good even, (Genesis 1:31) then it would follow that there is goodness in the winter snow and chill.

After all, many of the saints loved winter. Saints John Paul the Great, Pierre Giorgio Frassati, Gianna Molla, and Saint Bernard were all skiers. Here is a fun article about saints we could possibly have seen at the winter olympics.

Saint Therese of Lisieux apparently loved snow. “I don’t know if I’ve already told you how much I love snow? When I was small, its whiteness filled me with delight, and one of the greatest pleasures I had was taking a walk under the light snowflakes.” This is not the first time I wish I could be more like Saint Therese.

Saint Paul exhorts us to, “Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) In sorrow, in suffering, in weakness, in all circumstances (including winter!) we must give thanks.

In fact, winter can represent a time of unparalleled growth. Even though the landscape appears barren and lifeless, important things are happening beneath the snow. The roots are storing energy, ready to burst to life when the warm weather arrives. The snow actually insulates and protects the root systems and the melting snow provides essential moisture for healthy spring growth. So, winter is important.

Just so, when we experience winter in our spiritual life, important things are happening. God works in the quiet and in the background. We may not “feel” his presence when we are struggling with difficult circumstances, but he is there working behind the scenes, strengthening our resolve and our faith, working all things together “for good for those who love Him.” (Romans 8:28) Our constancy, perseverance, and faithfulness in the face of dryness, adversity, or pain is the greatest revelation of the depth of our love and trust in God. In these times of the “winter of the soul,” God is doing great unseen things in us. All he ever asks of us is to trust in Him.

February is a tough time of year in the school as well. The cold, dark days take their toll and students and teachers alike are feeling weary and fatigued. But, this winter stretch is where we can really dive deeply into the curriculum and spend focused attention on academics. This is the hard work that is happening “under the snow.” But, by June the slog of the daily grind has had its impact; faithfulness has born fruit; and diligence has paid off.

“Winter,” in all its forms is essential, and yes, even beautiful. Without the winter, spring is less glorious. Winter teaches us, profoundly, how faithful, how loving our God is.
-Mrs. Lisa Sweet, Academic Dean