I grew up in North Alabama and spent all of my life in the South. Three years ago, my family relocated to Colorado and, within a few short months, I learned a truth about a season called winter. It was rare to have white stuff fall from the sky in my hometown. It would happen no more than two times a year and then, only rarely would there be anything left the next day. My experience has been different in Colorado.
Snow falls at regular intervals and remains on the ground for days at a time. This winter we had ice in our alley for almost two months. As a result of this weather, people act differently during the winter. I was asked the other day when the best time is for a mission team to come to Colorado. My answer is mid-April to early October. People tend to hibernate here once the first snow falls.
Hibernation affects many different areas of life (i.e. relationships, crime, attitudes, events and activities). But there is a spiritual component to hibernation too. Individuals turn inward, families become reclusive, community building is sparse, and isolation is the norm. Wherever old-man winter holds a tight grip, hibernation is a spiritual condition that must be addressed and worked against. But, for now, I am glad the sun is in the sky and rain is in the forecast for the first time all year.
