In an early morning ceremony today, groundhog Punxsutawney Phil emerged from his burrow in Pennsylvania and signaled to the world that he saw no shadow today, thereby foretelling an early end to winter. Over the century and a quarter that the ceremony has taken place, Phil has seen his shadow only 16 times including today. The last time he didn’t see a shadow was in 2007. Today’s smaller than usual crowd, who stood in freezing rain to watch the ceremony, responded with a subdued clap of the hands.

An early spring. A decidedly difficult concept yet appealing concept for us North Texans. We’re enduring a second straight day of record-breaking low temperatures and iced-over roads. Thousands of Super Bowl bound visitors are stranded in airports around the country waiting for the airports in our region to get back to full service. Snow and icy roads. Schools and offices closed. Rolling electrical blackouts. It’s inconvenient. It’s a hassle. It causes us to let go.

We hate to let go. We need to be in control. Most of us are shocked to discover how great this need is. What’s true in work-a-day life is true in our spiritual life as well. We seem to prefer a clear and comfortable theology to the mystery of followership. Contemplative spirituality creates in us the ability to let go of our need to be successful, of our need to be right and our need to be in control. Letting in go is not easy. Perhaps a few more snow days might allow the lesson to sink deeper into our souls.

 

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