Frozen Lakes, Warm Souls

Here in Minnesota, we love our lakes so much that, after spending all summer on and around them, we eagerly wait for them to freeze so we can spend winter on them as well. How astonishing that what once flowed freely can turn solid and strong enough to support people and vehicles. An awe-inspiring part of God’s creation.

Our souls can sometimes be like water. When things are going well, they flow like a spring creek, easily bending around obstacles and carrying on downstream towards what is ahead. Sometimes so full of happiness that we overflow, breaking from our banks with shouts of joy.

But when life is cold and dark, our souls can become like ice in a river. Stiff and unable to flow, the frozen water piles up into ice dams which block the way for the melted, free-flowing water. We feel trapped and helpless, unable to break the blockage of loneliness or depression.

But then a warm greeting or sunny smile comes along. It doesn’t thaw all the ice. But it melts just enough to let our soul start flowing again. A trickle of laughter comes out. A thin stream of smiles. The icy soul begins to thaw and flow freely again.

We can be the warmth for someone, even in the cold winter. We can offer that smile or kind word. We can ensure that, even when the lakes are frozen, our souls run free.