“Man, it’s cold,” I heard the man with the frosty beard say, while he stomps his feet and pulls hiw coat up all the way to his ears.
“Yup,” Nick Wilson nods. “Barometers down. Cold as hell.”
Image by NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center via FlickrMy neighbors and friends shuffled by to check their mail, arms shoved deep inside their pockets. And it seemed everyone wanted to talk about the same thing.
The window where I sold stamps was the literal center of the community. I heard about all the good deals, the bad characters, the broken cars, the rotten eggs, the bad tomatoes and yes, the weather.
“I've got 12 inches on my deck. “
“Snow’s so deep, the deer won’t be able to eat.”
“Rain flooded my basement.”
“My flowers got hit by the frost.”
“Cold front from Canada.”
"So hot it wilted my lettuce"
"So hot it wilted my lettuce"
“High pressure”
“Low Pressure.”
Sometimes it seems that we’re nervous to talk about real life – the stuff like children and aging, love and divorce, betrayal and loyalty. With everything so much more important in the light of eternity, all we can talk about is the precipitation and humidity, dew point and frost.
It's a shared narrative, a common calamity. We all must endure the extremes together as community. We've haven't all lost a job, or a spouse, or a child, but we've all sweated under the blazing sun. We've all stood against the winter's blast. We all heard the wind howl.
It's a shared narrative, a common calamity. We all must endure the extremes together as community. We've haven't all lost a job, or a spouse, or a child, but we've all sweated under the blazing sun. We've all stood against the winter's blast. We all heard the wind howl.
We're so terribly obsessed with tomorrow’s temperatures, yet we could give a rip about eternity.
Care to comment? What's your weather like?
Care to comment? What's your weather like?
16 comments so far - add yours here:
Luke 12: 54---59
Thank you, David!
Afraid to rip off the pretentious mask and dive into the heart of authenticity..sometimes its easier to talk weather. If I dare go deeper the avalanche of emotion could bury me...so I smile and nod my head and say, "Yes, this Iowa weather sure is cold..."
It's warming up in South Dakota, David. Edged up above zero yesterday, first time in forever. ;)
A common calamity. I like that. Our details may not be the same, but in the end, our stories run the same paths. We're in this thing together.
I do like the idea of having a shared experience to discuss. :)
Snowing like hxx here. :) Really, it's blinding right now. And it feels isolating. And maybe under all the weather talk are the words that describe what we're really feeling.
Maybe the weather is a key, if we listen to the words...
:)
The weather is the obvious thing, isn't it? It takes a bit a looking to see what's underneath.
Sunny and warm today. Almost tropical! I saw thirty degrees at one point!
How 'bout this: "It takes a bit of looking..."
Weather is just about the only universal topic that can't get you in trouble with politics or religion. (Or, maybe not, I forgot about global warming.)
I wonder what the weather will be like in heaven. Maybe that's how we bridge the gap.
Well David, I don't need to talk weather with you because your window opens to the same view as mine.
So, how's the weather down at your house? :)
I think weather bonds communities in a sense, it is the common enemy'/friend depending on where you live. It is easy to talk about, quick to complete a conversation and then on ... Unfortunately, most people are too busy to stop and truly listen - anything other than our common ground will take time to share.... Yet we all long for it.
I am heading to the beach to walk and talk about something other than the weather with my dear friend.
I really like what you said about the things we share in common. As I grew up everyone was watching the same three television stations and listening to the same top 40 songs - lots of commonality. Now the weather is one of the few things "we" are experiencing at the same time. Appreciate your writing and pray God's blessings for you.
true! I love it when people are real
when i visited my hometown after 25 years, standing in the post office for 20 minutes is where i got a lot of the news.
my father and uncle "always" started talking about the weather first when they would call.
you are right about it being something in common. a good way to start a conversation.
I read your words with utter chagrin. Your clean perception and piercing application make this an astounding post.
You ask of weather? Do they still often say, in Denver, that the sun will quickly burn off morning clouds?
The Son is burning off mourning clouds. It shall be a glorious day!
Do I sense similar weather where you are, David, punctuated with a sunny, 70-degree January day just for emphasis?
Please see my response to this
post at
http://kingfishercrossing.blogspot.com/2011/01/why-do-we-talk-about-weather-but-not.html
I think it has to do with trust, and vulnerability. It's hard to talk about your failure and difficulties, especially with casual acquaintances who may not care, or worse, use the info against you. Which is why I think the best thing we can do as Christians is to just try and be frinds with people. Let them know we are here, that we care, ask questions, take an interest, and ultimately -build trust.
And my personal weather was cloudy with thunderstorms this weekend at first, then cleared up to calm blue skies. How was yours?
It is easy to pretend our way through life. Minimizing failures, blaming others, hiding our head, or living in shame of exposure. At some point though, we will all- each and every one of us- be called accountable for the lack of substance in our lives, character or godly virtue. I for one want to be real. Yet, I say that with a heavy heart knowing it takes alot of work, effort and committment to get there, if ever one can. It is challenging and against our nature to drop the mask, stop playing the game or to talk of difficult issues....
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