Winter of our Content

Is it possible that the season of winter gets a bad rap?  In 1594, Shakespeare coined the phrase “winter of our discontent” as the opening line of Richard III.  Here is the entire first sentence of the play:

Now is the winter of our discontent, made glorious summer by this sun of York; and the clouds that lour’d upon our house in the deep bosom of the ocean buried.

Interestingly, the thought was to convey better times ahead, but the phrase stuck as a connotation of winter being a time of discontent instead of content.

Do you see winter as a time of discontent?  Do you count the days until fair weather returns?  Confessionally, I think we all appreciate fair weather much more and we can miss the real beauty in winter.  Trees transform exuding a new majesty about them void of all their leaves.  They seem tall and mighty laid bare in gray and purple hues standing against the wind and snow.  The winter sky also appears more brilliant as the deep blue of the sun-illuminated cosmos contrasts the browns and grays of wintered earth.  The cool crisp air is altogether different, which is a real relief in our part of the country.  It is true that we aren’t out and about as much, and this affords us time to spend with our families inside.  In the bible, winter was typically a time of peace as wars and battles were put off until fairer weather (2 Sam. 2:11, 1 Chron. 1:20).  The chariots, swords and shields basically got put away as do our bats, balls, cleats, pads, helmets, and gloves.

Believe it or not summer and winter houses are nothing new.  King Jehoiakim was in his winter house by the ninth month sitting by a fire in his brazier when he was given a scroll (Jer. 36:22).  And, Amos announced judgment on all the houses of the wealthy including the winter homes (Amos 3:15).  In our time, folks winterize their homes to get ready for the colder months, and we too enjoy fire in its place whether by wood or gas – something we can’t do in the warmer months unless we want to sweat to death.  So what is wrong with a hot drink, a warm fire, and a relaxing cuddle with your spouse? I say take advantage of this particular benefit of winter!

The truth is that every season has a purpose, including winter.

“There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven…“ Ecc. 3:1

The soil rests, the trees sleep, the grass grows dormant, animals hibernate, and everything around us is wonderfully given purpose even in the winter of discontent.  We can rest, look back, look ahead, set goals, be resolute with our resolutions, and enjoy the winter of our content.