There is a muscular energy in sunlight corresponding to the spiritual energy of wind.

The sun came out, but first it snowed.  

Clearing Skies

©RiverWalker Arts

In the grey north, on this little island where it rains and rains and rains, where water never ceases to fall and the appearance of the sun is a sign for celebration,  the temperature dipped.  It dipped just that last few degrees plunging us into the realm of snow… and so for a brief time the rain froze and the snow began to pile up. 

It was early morning when the children donned their snow suits and grabbed anything that looked like it might work as a sled and headed outside.  By noon the skies were clearing and the sun began to emerge from behind the mountain that marks the center of this tiny island.  With the flourish of sunshine people came flooding from their homes.  I saw children sledding, building snowmen, laughing and pouring out of the door at the public  library.  Mothers pushing strollers chatted at the park and looked on fondly as children played.  The swing sets which normally hang limp and sodden and covered in algae and moss suddenly found life and the world rang with laughter. 

Harbour Vista

©RiverWalker Arts

Somehow the light managed to arrive and wrought the most amazing change on this community.  I was awestruck.  A little snow?  Sure.. but what a change the sun could bring, and all that reflected light off all that white snow and suddenly everyone was outside – it made no difference if it was cold, or that the snow was heavy and wet but light had finally filtered through into this dark place.  It can be said that no one here takes the sun for granted…

I have found hope in the winter….