The way a crow Shook down on me The dust of snow From a hemlock tree
Has given my heart A change of mood And saved some part Of a day I had rued.
“Dust of Snow” is a short poem by Robert Frost, published in the Pulitzer Prize-winning volume New Hampshire (1923). The poem’s speaker, possibly the poet himself, is initially unhappy. But a sprinkling of snow, dislodged by a crow in the tree above the speaker, brings an element of surprise that partly “save[s]” the speaker’s bad day. The poem thus shows how nature can lift people’s mood, if only temporarily.
I pretty much did nothing yesterday. I was feeling yucky with a migraine and nausea. I’m not really feeling much better today. Thankfully, I’m off work today because I’m working Saturday, so I can have another day of doing nothing and hoping I feel better tomorrow when I do have to go back to work.
Words of the wise, spoken quietly, should be heard rather than the shout of a ruler of fools.
— Ecclesiastes 9:17
There are times when we are to remain silent and there are times when we are to speak up. The times when Christians are to remain silent are when we Are removing ourselves from conflict, listening to instruction, and when controlling our speech. Sometimes we need to be silent and get away from distractions to hear God.
It is essential in our walk with the Lord that we learn how to be in silence before Him. Sometimes silence is a sin. Sometimes it is essential that we do not remain silent. Ephesians 5:11 tells us, “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.” It’s our duty to speak up against evil because if we don’t who will? I encourage everyone to pray for courage to help with speaking up for what’s right and pray for help to remain silent when we must be silent. Proverbs 31:9 says, “Open your mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy” and Isaiah 1:17 commands us, “Learn to do good; seek justice, rebuke the oppressor; defend the fatherless, plead for the widow.” We have to speak up to those who can’t speak for themselves, or if they can speak, lend our voices to their cries for help and justice.
It is a shame that many of today’s Christians are silent when it’s time to speak out against sin and evil, especially when it is coming from so-called Christians. If you are purposely doing harm, silencing others who need a voice, yet proclaim to be Christian, you are not in fact following the Word of God. As Christians we are to preach the Word of God, discipline, and rebuke others who work against God’s word. Many Christians are so worldly, often caught up in the current political climate of hate, they’re afraid to stand up for God and save lives. They would rather condemn others to burn in hell than tell people the truth of God’s Word and protect and assist those who need it the most.
A few things to remember as we go about our day:
Silence can be a source of great strength.
Wise men are not always silent, but they know when to be.
God is the best listener. You don’t need to shout nor cry out loud because He hears even the silent prayer of a sincere heart.
Even if I had not seen the forecast and already knew the temperature was going to plunge over the next 24 hours, I’d have known there was drastic weather changes coming. Since I started taking Vitamin B2 and Magnesium Oxide to help with my migraines, I have had fewer headaches, even when we had changes in the weather. However, last night there was so much pressure in my head that f felt like it might burst. I guess when the temperature drops over 50 degrees n less than 24 hours and quick moving snow squalls come through in the middle of the night, my sinuses are going to know it’s coming. When I head out for work in the morning, the temperature is supposed to be -7 degrees (-22 C) with a windchill of -27 degrees (-33 C). By the time I leave work tomorrow, it will have dropped to -16 degrees (27 C) with a windchill of -40 degrees (-40 C [yes the numbers are the same at that temperature]). I had to get out my heavy parka for today. Once I get home tonight, I will not be venturing outside again until Sunday when we will have “warmer” temperatures with a high of 34 degrees. It’s amazing how drastically the temperatures can change in Vermont.
Joe
The Closet Professor 