Posted by
Doug on Thursday, October 16, 2008 12:52:16 AM
The year was 1985, and it was Super Bowl Sunday. The 49ers were playing the Dolphins later in the day, but that was not the news. The news was the weather. It was -29F. This was not the wind chill, this was the temperature. I was at college, and we were stuck in our dorms. We were pretty sure that our cars in the parking lot were dead, but we had to find out. In the afternoon, with the temperature finally warming to -10, we bundled up, and went to the parking lot in pairs to start our cars, or at least try. Our cars were dead, we were cold, and warmth seemed a long way off. Yet we look back fondly on this day. We did not enjoy the day, we enjoyed each other in the midst of the cold, even as we bundled up like Arctic explorers and headed out for the parking lot.
We may yet have a cold spell facing us. A spell of lean times that we have not seen in awhile. The temptation is to look to the future in fear. Fear of the cold wind blowing in our direction. Yet perhaps there is potential here. Maybe we can learn to lean on each other, maybe we can bundle up together and walk together in the teeth of this wind. Maybe we can learn to help each other, support each other, and maybe we will look back fondly at this coming time. Not because the time is pleasant, but because we can be something to each other that makes these times good, and productive. I think it is possible, just maybe.