Snowed Out!

The lead article in today’s New York Times, “Blizzard Ends, Leaving Trail of Disruption Along Coast,” shows how the forces of nature can supersede everything else. While we occupy ourselves with political machinations, and think we’re so important, one powerful storm can bring all our efforts to a screeching halt.

The article describes the blizzard as the worst in four years, and I must admit to feeling overwhelmed as I watched it swirling around outside late Sunday evening. Needless to say, the storm wreaked havoc on area transportation, especially travelers trying to get home after Christmas.

Economic activity was paralyzed as well, disrupting an otherwise beneficial retail shopping season. Returning a present is kind of difficult when you can’t get past the front door.

Today, all will return to a degree of normalcy with workbound commuters, Republicans and Democrats arguing with each other, and other activities we have come to take for granted. The United States will remain at loggerheads with Iran, Israelis and Palestinians will continue to bicker, or worse, and the long slog against terrorisms will continue.

But as I looked out over the expanse of white yesterday morning, I caught a glimpse of the way the world should be, the purity and beauty, unspoiled by any of man’s actions and far above them.