The Philosophy of Snowfall and Sniffles

The world stops when it snows in Leicester.

Buses restrict their routes, schools quit their courses, smart cars go into their garages, and shops owners exit early.


When I saw the snow out my window, I knew this was a beautiful start to the day! "I'm walking to school today!" I geared up by pulling out all my layering clothes... my tights, tank top; long socks, short sleeve shirt; jeans long sleeve shirt; "Wellies" (rainboots), coat #1, knit hat; coat #2 and gloves; then, the backpack. I started out from under our deck and instantly felt the HUGE snow flakes hitting my face (the only thing exposed to the elements). All the sudden I was back in time...15 years ago, Colorado celebrating Easter, the Stover and Moore families, late April... and unexpected snow! And we, the kids, were ecstatic! The most exhilerating feeling in the world was our 4 layered legs and Wal-mart sack-covered tennis shoes taking the first step outside and breathing in the smell of snow... That was a start to a beautiful day.


I started euphorically waddling toward the dining hall for breakfast enamored with the beauty that was falling around me.








I recruited another friend who wanted to celebrate by a walk to school as well... so we walked for two miles discussing our experience here so far, laughing about memories, discussing what we wish we would have done differently, how we think people see us, and what we've learned... a great talk in the midst of beauty. Ahh, beautiful.


The next day I woke up with the dreaded cold. A hacking cough w/ green Gak coming up... beautiful image, huh? Not to mention the constant Niagra falls flowing out of my face via my nose. :)


Thus came the philosophy of Snowfall and Sniffles. My time here has been one that has already changed me... and it's only been a month. Stepping out of my surroundings into not only a new group of American people with many different ways of living, but also into a new country whose culture also dictatees different ways of living. Over this last month, I have had alot of challenge and questions about my belief systems. Christianity is prevelant in our culture... however, the view people have of it really saddens me. And I have begun to nail down why. Christianity is equated w/ good morals and prudeness. You don't experience life to its fullness b/c you are bound by the rules of your religion. But, what I have come to believe through my experience is quite the opposite. A belief in Christ allows man to be fully alive. Let me explain:


I believe we were created to live fully alive. I believe "Paradise" was incredible and it was God's purpose to experience life w/ the people He created. He desired for us to live without the knowledge of worry because everything was provided, completely exposed w/ nothing to hide, totally intimate w/ Him and others, with knowns passions that give us purpose, and completely at rest. However, He's good and not forceful. He offered us Paradise, but we decided for independence... we wanted to try this out on our own. Thus, we made a decision that made us into people who wanted to attempt indepedence... and that broke us. Ever since that moment, knowledge that God didn't want for us... of hardship, pain, broken hearts... became our reality and we were required to adapt and developed a constant striving for things, never feeling like we have enough, constantly hiding things so that we can still give off the image of a Paradise-like person when that's not real, and our relationships w/ people are screwed up. However, thank God the story doesn't end there... Christ came to intercede for us... to allow us a chance to live the life God intended. He came to give us an inner most part of us that aligns w/ how we were made to live. And now, if we accept that, paid for w/ a brutal murder and then human reserrection, we have the opportunity to live how we were meant to, how we were created to.


Now, what's all this stuff have to do w/ snow and snot? :) Well, here it is. I believe that as a Christian I don't have to just experience one or the other. I have the ability to experience both. We get to totally soak up and enjoy the beauty of snow... yet we have the strength to face the sniffles that come with it. I have decided in my time here, that I want to be on a journey that faces life head on... to live a genuine life not clouded by alcohol, food, or whatever other vice I could use to skew my view of reality, take me away from it. Because the bad, the sniffles, is part of this whole life experience. Because I'm learning to live in His Spirit... how I was meant to... I get to face the realities of the world b/c it's not my ultimate reality.


Some really old Saint, Irenaeus, said it like this,"Man fully alive is the glory of God" and Sara G. said it like this "The glory of God is man fully alive." Jesus, like this "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. " And Paul puts it this way: "But if the Spirit of Him who riase Jesus from the dead dwelss in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dea will aos give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you." (John 10:10; Rom 8:11 respectively)


In my time here, I want to experience the lonliness and believe me there has been some crippeling lonliness, I want to experience being out of control of things at home, which has also been prevelent. I want to experience the risk of losing a relationship I love the most because I came here. I want to do this experience wholly, not just weeding out the good and trying to avoid the bad. I'm not naive... life's harsh realities are bigger than sniffles. However, all of it makes the experience. We are promised that the crappy stuff will be 'recycled' as I heard said this week, into useable stuff in our life. And I know, trust me I know, that this can come off as cliche and happy-go-lucky... like it's too easy of an answer to horrid questions. I am not claiming to have those answer... just believe God laid a belief, a philosophy of life that says that as Christians we get to fully experience both horrid and good. We don't have to hide from the bad, b/c it's not our ultimate reality.


Here's some of the rest of that song which sums it up:

"There are so many ways to hide.
There are so many ways not to feel.
There are so many ways to deny what is real.


I'm going to live my life inspired,
Look for the holy in the common place.
Open the windows and feel all that's honest and real until I'm truly amazed.
I'm going to feel all my emotions.
I'm going to look you in the eyes.
I'm going to listen and hear until it's finally clear and it changes our lives



Oh the glory of God is man fully alive"

People were EVERYWHERE! The park was filled w/ at least 50 snowman and igloos! And that's me waddling :) And school behind me.

Recently: I just bought my ticket to see Chelsey and Sarah in Spain over break! Read a 200 pg. novel and am on my 500 page one due next Wednesday. Wasn't kidding about this awful cold.

Coming soon: Possibly a trip to Dublin before the St. Patty's day madness and a trip to Paris! On two weeks in a row :)