The Frost of the Soul

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven . . .”

– Ecclesiastes 3:1, NRSV

Have you ever woken up in the morning to a beautiful, sparkly, white frost coating everything? As the seasons change, some mornings the frost will creep in. This is most common in the seasonal change from fall to winter. Right now, in the northern hemisphere, we are beginning the seasonal change of summer to fall. While in warmer climates, this seasonal change does not involve frost, in northern, colder climates we sometimes wake to that sparkly morning covering.

I reside in eastern Oregon, where the morning lows can be fifty degrees colder than the daytime highs! These dramatic shifts can result in a frosty morning glow. Frost is magical to look at, but incredibly cold to the touch. As the sun rises in the morning, it slowly begins to warm everything and melt that beautiful layer of frost.

In the spiritual life, sometimes we need a little warming ourselves. In the dark of night, frost creeps in and covers us. In our darkest times, we sometimes become bitter, sullen, and cold. We allow the darkness of our circumstances to coat us in a layer of sadness and despair. Sometimes, this can even result in beginning to grow cold to the touch of our Lord, because the evil one likes to come in and coat us with his cold frost of doubt, despair, and loneliness.

But, this frost does not last forever. As we begin to immerse ourselves in scripture, in fellowship, and in Jesus Himself through the Eucharist, that frost slowly begins to melt. When we allow Jesus to comfort us through His word, His people, and the gift of Himself, the frost slowly begins to melt off. We are warmed and reminded of His everlasting love for us.

While frost is beautiful to look at, it is cold to the touch. Evil can disguise itself as beautiful, but as soon as we touch it, we turn cold. Jesus is our everlasting warmth. May we always seek Him to warm our souls and console our despair.

In Christ,

Lauren

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