ust the sound of the word whistling<br > ~ through our lips puts a mental ch 11 up<br > our spines. Winter seems to speak of<br > barrenness， frigid feelings of discom-<br > fort and discontent， icy shadows<br > sprawled across frozen ponds， naked<br > branches reaching up as if in supplica-<br > tion fbr relief. Short days， long nights.<br > Fast-fading memories of yesterday s<br > fun in the sun， bike rides along the<br > beach， the World Series， Thanksgiv-<br > ing. Heavy， gray clouds and harsh<br > winds sting our faces and steal our<br > smiles~ With grim determination we<br > trudge on， sometinles alone and iso-<br >ted， within our own little world of heavy garb and frosty windows~ "The<br >. ad of winter"--ah， an apt description!<br > Not all agree. Ski buffs and snow lovers resent such a depressing por-<br >ayal of their favorite season. ~ do artists who prefer a quaint cottage in<br >ew Hampshire rather than an ocean view at Malibu or a sandy beach at<br >~ Thomas. For many， a year without winter would be a devastating dis-<br >bpointment. What better time to warm up alongside a crackling fire， lis-<br >a to some fine music， and stare away an evening? Toss in the joy of<br >lristmas， the celebration of New Year s Eve， the Super Bowl， a Valen-<br >le s Day kiss..， and you ve got enough to make anybody forget ninety-<br >e degree days， along with flies and mosquitoes at an August picnic.<br >hat a difference perspective makes!<br >Winter... the ideal occasign to slow down. To invest a few extra hours<br >quiet reverence. To take a long walk over the freshly fallen white manna<br >livered earlier that day. To remind ourselves that "our God is in the<br >averts; He does whatever He pleases" (Psalm 115:3).<br >Is it winter right flow in the season of your life? Are you feeling de-<br >-~ssed，.. alone..， overlooked..， spiritually on "hold"... cold..， bar-<br >1? Beginning to wondor if your soul will ever thaw? Entertaining doubts<br >