Burr. It鈥檚 so cold! How long is this winter going to last? These are the questions flying around our community recently.
Answers, at least my responses, are definitely a matter of perspective. Here鈥檚 why. This long-time resident of Saskatchewan wants to (and sometime does) counter in these words: 鈥淐old, you don鈥檛 know anything about cold. Why I remember the times when it was -40 and I sat curled up on the chesterfield with a cup of tea in hand, a book on my lap and an admiring glance at the beauty of the snow.鈥
As to how long it鈥檚 going to last: up to five to six months?
Then, there鈥檚 the other part of me that鈥檚 now resided for nearly two decades in the warmer part of British Columbia: 鈥淚 know what you mean about cold, I can鈥檛 seem to warm up these days. The rain is cold and the grey, smothering and almost depressing. I sure hope the weather changes soon, we can hardly see the green grass under that covering of snow and the sidewalks are icy. Burr!! They say it might snow again tomorrow. How long is this winter going to last!鈥
The temperature we鈥檙e discussing? It鈥檚 a mind-numbing -10C and we鈥檝e approximately 10 inches of the white stuff. Now, perhaps, you can see why the evaluations are so radically different. What does make the big difference, though, is perspective. Living somewhere that鈥檚 known for its fierce winters is totally different than living in a moderate, coastal environment.
God鈥檚 Word cautions us about perspective: Let鈥檚 be careful we don鈥檛 judge just because we think our challenges are hardest.
鈥淒o not judge and criticize and condemn [others unfairly with an attitude of self-righteous superiority as though assuming the office of a judge], so that you will not be judged [unfairly].鈥 Matthew 7:1
PS: -10 Celsius is 14 degrees Fahrenheit.
Our snow is gone now.