Title: Scenic view of the lake surrounded by evergreens and snow-capped mountains
Artist: Raymond Gehman
As much as I envision snow completing the Christmas season, with snow-capped mountains and crystal blue lakes reflecting the beauty around as I snuggle up by the fireplace in a cabin with rustic furnishings, or perhaps slip slidding down the slopes ... Christmas isn't about any of that at all.
Well, let me digress and tell you about my little mishap on the mountains many years ago ;-)
Slip slides happen to those out of control ...
I once tried skiing during winter holidays in Nevada. Prior to that, the sport that I really ever knew was ballet. Needless to say, I was very flexible and walked with turned out feet (some say, like a duck!) The ski instructor said I should have no problems with skiing since I already danced and was flexible. I might as well dance on the slopes as well!
Let me be the first to tell you that dancers definitely don't make good skiers. Skiers' stance is completely the opposite from dancers. They form a wedge (with turned in feet), and adjust their feet, depending on which direction and how fast they want to go down the slope.
Skiers bend their body forwards with knees bent to keep the balance. Dancers pull up their bodies and create a invisible line from head to toe. They stand straight. They walk tall.
After the initial basic lessons on skiing, I was put on the ski lift and journeyed up the mountains. It was difficult enough to muster the courage to get on the lift and now I had to get off the lift. I couldn't the first time round, and they stopped the lift because everybody gets off.
When I finally did, I had to quickly ski around a tree (like doing the U-turn except this one's to the left!). After turning around, I immediately fell right into a pile of snow. Not wanting to embarrass my instructor and friend, I quickly got up and told them to go ahead down the slope ... I will eventually get there!
I tried going down the slope. My feet were naturally turned out, and I struggled to do the wedge, but each time I pushed off with the poles, my feet would naturally move away from the wedge and I find myself going downhill fast with feet in parallel - a nice compromise between turn out and wedge!
With my un-natural extended feet and skis, and the indecisiveness of my body - whether to stay turned out naturally or forcing the wedge - it wasn't far down on the slope before I fell into a heap. Laying on the slopes facing skyward but my legs somehow behind and next to my body.
The skis were still attached to my feet. No matter how flexible, I was not able to untangle myself. Luckily, nothing was broken. Feeling incredibly awkward in a twisted sort of position.
The kids noticed my distress and came around to see how they could help. I was eventually dis-entangled by ... what must have been eight to 1o year old kids! One of them even muttered, "How in the world did she get into such a position!" I was silent, face flushed.
The boys had to take the skis off my feet and help me bring one leg at a time around the side and place my legs back in their natural position. Needless to say, it took me awhile before I was able to put on my skis again.
By then, my friend must have come up the slopes again and slowly skied down the slopes with me ... I don't even remember if I skied some and walked sideways down the slopes from there on ... but I did make it down eventually to be able to tell you this story so many years later!
And no, I have not skied since!
The Miracle of Friendships, Relationships
Much like my attempted ski experience, life has been full of adventures. Some experiences were foreign to my nature and required much courage to get off the lift and get going.
Once the journey begins, it requires self discipline and manouevring to get things moving in the right direction. There were times when the speed picks up and things seem to get out of control.
And there are times when you end up in a heap, exhausted, and in temporary paralysis. This is where I experience God's goodness somehow - that in a state of hopelessness, many whom I had not noticed or paid much attention to (but who have been there all along) would come around and rally around you.
They come as friends, sharing their stories and their lives. Whether they were conscious of it, they were in fact helping me out of my entanglements and getting me back up on my feet again. They walk alongside me and together we sojourn through life together in this season.
On Christmas Day, On the road to recovery
I re-discovered the true meaning of Christmas and why this has got to be the most important season of any and every year.
Yes, I am thankful for my family, my friends, and newfound friends
I am thankful for having all that I have, for the new adventures, for growth
But most of all, I am thankful for the gift of Jesus Christ.
And it all begins with the heart ... my heart ...
Christmas isnt Christmas til it happens in your heart
Somewhere, deep inside you, is where Christmas really starts
So, give your heart to Jesus, youll discover when you do
That it's Christmas, really Christmas for you.
Jesus brings warmth like a winter fire, a light like a candles glow
He's waiting now to come inside, like He did so long ago
Jesus brings gifts of truth and life and makes them bloom and grow
So welcome Him with a song of joy, and when He comes you'll know
That Christmas isnt Christmas til it happens in your heart
Somewhere, deep inside you, is where Christmas really starts
So, give your heart to Jesus, youll discover when you do
That it's Christmas, really Christmas
Christmas, really Christmas
Christmas, really Christmas for you!
Contrary to what I had planned, Christmas turned out to be a very eventful day of feasting and the re-kindling of friendships. I thoroughly enjoyed the conversations and being part of their family. It was good. It was very good!
What of the journey ahead?
Will it be like going downhill on the the ski slopes? Will I find life going by too quickly? Or will I find myself crashing and forming a heap - a sign of the need to slow down? Or will it make up of all those experiences?
What I would rather do is learn to ski properly and get to the bottom of the slope gracefully. I would then like to go back up the slope and ski down again and again.
This should be my next adventure after I have learnt to scale the heights!
