The perfect winter.

This is, in my opinion, the perfect winter.  There have been very few freeze-thaw cycles and the “freeze” part hasn’t been absurdly cold.  We’ve enjoyed a regular smattering of snow to keep it fresh but not so much that we spend days digging out.  The roads dry up quickly so driving conditions remain favourable.  Most importantly, the sun has been our regular companion.  Do you remember last year’s grey and constantly damp facsimile of winter?  It was horrible.  Bad.

As I started my day today, it dawned on me how much I measure my engagement with the weather using terms that are “moral” in nuance.  I judge my experience with the weather as “good” or “bad” depending on how pleasant or unpleasant it makes me feel.  Do I like (“good”) or dislike (“bad”) the current conditions?  Why do we use these kinds of terms to describe something that is essentially amoral?

The most obvious reason is that words like “good” and “bad” have acquired a broad range of meaning.  They do not belong exclusively to the realm of right versus wrong.  A great family dinner is described as a “good” meal.  Appendicitis is a “bad” experience.  When used in these contexts, we understand exactly what is being described.  Given a choice, I’d rather have a family dinner than visit an operating theatre.

Nonetheless, words like “good” and “bad” do hold moral significance.  There is an observable “creep” in the use of these kinds of words.  Ideas and concepts which are in opposition to the truths and values of the Kingdom of God are embraced because they are covered with a thin veneer of “good.”  If we aren’t attentive to these kinds of shifts, we will find confusion in our own understanding of what is true, what is real, and what has value.

All followers of Jesus for all time struggle with this.  What is unique to our era is how smoothly, how subtly, and how convincingly ideas which are in conflict with the truths of the Kingdom of God are presented.  Bold, blatant ideas like, “There is no God” are easy to spot.  Defining what is good is much harder when those terms are used in so many contexts with such a broad range of meaning.

Am I suggesting that we limit our use of words like “good” and “bad” exclusively to moral contexts?  That would be impossible.  But this morning’s reflection on the weather did remind me of the need for diligence in understanding what is meant when these kinds of words are being used.  Are they merely communicating what is pleasant and preferential versus what I dislike, or are they a subtle invitation to embrace that which is not part of the Kingdom of God?

The Apostle Paul encouraged his readers to be diligent as they processed the ideas and messages of their day.  He taught them that growth in faith was directly connected to renewing their thought processes (Rom. 12:2).  In fact, he went so far to say, “We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ” (2 Cor. 10:5).  He encouraged the church in Colossae to “set their minds on things above” because they were citizens of God’s Kingdom (Col. 3:12).  Peter, the guy who was transformed from impetuous and impulsive to pensive and deliberate said, “Prepare your minds . . .” (1 Pet. 1:13).

Is all this to suggest that we only read the Bible, only listen to “Christian” music, and all begin extended studies in church history and systematic theology?  Obviously not.  It does mean that, in a spirit of humility and grace, we are intentional, attentive, and careful to evaluate the messaging that bombards us every day.  Just because someone says something is “good” doesn’t mean it meets the criteria of Philippians 4:8 (“Whatever is true, honourable, etc. . . . think on these things”).  

The majority of my friends do not share my love for winter (I’m praying for them, though).  They don’t think it is “good.”  It is OK for them to be “wrong.”  Our perspectives whether there is merit or defect in snow and cold is not a moral issue.  In that sense, winter is not “bad.”  However, that doesn’t mean that scrapping off your car in -19C with a wind chill of -30C is “good.”  I don’t enjoy that either.  Being thankful to have a care to scrape, the strength to scrape . . . these is where we must be diligent in our thoughts.

Let’s enjoy the day (winter or not), be attentive, and embrace God’s goodness as the baseline for our thinking.  Our thoughts form the foundation for our perspective:  our passions, our priorities, and our purpose to life.  Unless we are intentional, we will live in a fog of meaning and understanding without realizing whether or not it is “good,” honourable, and true.