HAPPINESS DOESN'T JUST HAPPEN

Winter in Minnesota is in full swing. The temperatures have been below zero, plenty of snow has fallen, the wind chills have caused the thermometer to dip even lower; and oh yes, the sun is only out for a little over eight hours a day. Honestly, winter is my least favorite of the four seasons. Now, that’s not to say I don’t enjoy it, but it takes a little more time getting used to it.

Thankfully, there are many ways to get out and enjoy the season; for some that means firing up a snowmobile and motoring their way through field and woods. For others, they may get out on one of the thousands of lakes and ice fish. For my boys, they strap on a pair of skis or grab a snowboard and hit the slopes. My wife and I like to take hikes through the woods with our dog. My favorite thing about hiking in the winter is that you can tell who or what has been there before you. There may be boot or snowshoe tracks from other hikers, maybe a cross country ski trail, or the many different animal tracks that tell of what populates the area - -  one never knows what you’ll see.

                 

The cold and snow create their challenges, but in our civilization, there are ways to overcome those challenges. The technical advances in clothing help overcome the frigid temperatures. The vast array of equipment not limited to, but include snowmobiles, skis, and snowshoes provide many opportunities to get out and enjoy creation. One of the unique challenges to overcome in winter is the lack of daylight. A friend of mine suffers from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), which is caused from the lack of sunlight. Thankfully, there is a lamp for your home that simulates sunlight.

Geared up and ready for fun.

Working through challenges can be very rewarding and usually there are resources available to get through them. God wants us to be happy, but He’s not always going to serve it on a silver platter; sometimes we have to help set the table.

Ecclesiastes 3: 12-13 So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can. And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God.