The Silence of Snow

I live in one of the busiest and noisiest cities in the world, New York City. But I'm fortunate to have a tiny house in the country where I can escape when I need to quiet myself, calm my soul, restore my energy, and find peace. Last week the weather forecast predicted up to six inches of snow in the area where my little house is located. I knew I wanted to be there for that snowfall, a place where I wouldn't hear the sound of snowplows and traffic moving through the snow and ice on city streets.My friends chuckled when I told them I was driving to the country so I could 'hear the snow fall.' In the middle of the night, I got up and looked out on an enchanted landscape outside my window. Everything was already covered with a light, fluffy snow. And I could hear the most beautiful sound: the silent falling of the snow. I can only describe this awesome feeling as being in another world.Yes, I love to hear the beautiful sound of snow fall. It's more than a 'sound.' It is a silence that seems to demand that it should be heard. It almost urges people to slow down, to stop, to listen to themselves and to others. It's a silence that goes beyond understanding and pleads with the mind to pause for a while, to purify itself. It invites the world to be still.When snow falls, animals appear to be silent too. Even the birds stop their singing. It's as though they want to listen to the silence that gives them - and all of us - rest and peace.An old woman once told me that the silence of snow fall was the loudest silence she knew, that it was beautiful and prayerful, profound and stunning. Yet it is a barely audible whisper.Later that morning as I wandered around in the falling snow, I felt the silence hanging on to my coat, tickling my face. I could almost cut it with a knife. There was a feeling of volume and bulk, but it was soft as powder and light as a feather.Perhaps the next time you are out in a snow fall, pause to listen to it and feel it. I believe it speaks to us - like a whisper from the Divine.Beloved Giver of Snow and Silence, forgive us for rushing through this beautiful world and not pausing to hear the miracle of a quiet snow fall. May we be like the birds, who stop their singing in order to experience the peace of the silent snow. Help us to listen to the snow fall and to be mindful of the gift of silence around us.  Amen Joy Carolwww.joycarol.com