A Prayer

Winter Teaches Me

Winter teaches me patience:
Walk carefullyon icy sidewalks.
Drive slower through snarled traffic.
Take more time to put on layers of clothes.
Wait for streets to be cleared of snow.
Be understanding about mail arriving late.

Winter strengthens my courage:
Go out into windy, freezing air. Risk travelling on snowy roads.
May they make us more aware of the miracle
Dress warmly and go for a walk.
Ski through woods, alone and free.
Be at peace in long days of darkness.

Winter brings me beauty:
Look up at the star-filled sky.
Pause to breathe the crisp air.
Vigil with steel-blue sunsets.
Marvel at frost etchings on windows.
Sink boots into soft, sensual powder.

Winter gives me silent hope:
Touch the terminal buds on branches.
Clear the snow and find green moss below.
Watch the sunlight fade, then linger longer.
Stand with the strength of evergreen trees.
Listen to birds cheeping at the feeder.

Joyce Rupp: The Circle of Life
By Joyce Rupp and Macrina Wiederkehr.
Photography and Design by Stephanie Romiti, csj.