Winter Solstice

Shriveled red peppers cling to their plants, still standing in frozen ground. The starkest contrast of life and death, warmth and cold. We didn't get up any of the plants this year, just let them fade and take whatever form came most naturally to them. The peppers hang on the longest. Ironically, that food which rarely stands alone in a meal remains alone in our garden. All signs of life removed and still it sprouts proudly from the ground.

Though the days will soon be getting longer-first comes the cold. The old adage "going to bed with the chickens" plays itself out each night, here. Our girls flee to the warmth of the roost, nestled together. Beaks tucked under wing until the sunshine of the morning warms their coop.

I let the squirrel eat for a while -this time of year he's earned the luxury of leaving his home in the woods crossing the road and sneaking over our cattle gate for a scant bite of scratch feed. When I open the door, releasing Ike & Dolly he'll scurry home-heart racing from the chase but with hunger satisfied.

Each morning the cast of characters expands at the single feeder. Female cardinals are Drew's favorite-the slight hints of red in her mostly grey ensemble (much like those peppers in the garden). The more frequent-the loyalists I call them- appeal more to me: chickadee, tufted titmouse, and finches of all hues. They gather, fill their bellies, and fly off to the barren apple tree until time for lunch.

The life in our yard, this day, belongs to animals-not plants. But it's enough to sustain my heart until the thaw. Although next year a goat might be a nice addition.

What happens next?

We are under a winter storm warning. We've been getting freezing rain and ice on and off since about 4:00 a.m. today and it will continue until late tomorrow morning. We visited our first church in Roanoke this morning in the snow. We walked arm in arm 2 streets over. The people in attendance were few and mostly elderly but the service was wonderful.

When we walked outside of the church a woman was passing by. Carrying her belongings in 3 garbage bags and one piece of rolling luggage. She was bundled for the weather but was having trouble hauling all of her things.

We took her down the street for lunch, she left all of her things outside and assured us no one would bother them. She talked about her life and her friends. She was heading to a gas station where a friend works, he would let her stay inside and drink coffee today  until she could return to her friend's house tonight. She drank several cups of coffee and was very curious to know why we didn't have any children.

She shares a name with my favorite aunt and I won't forget her. We replaced her garbage bags with more reliable/weather worthy bags and sent her on her way.

We walked 2 streets over to our loft, promptly turned on our gas logs, Christmas tree and a football game and it felt wrong. Why did we get to come home to so many luxuries while she was going to spend her day drinking gas station coffee until dark and then drag her bags back to the other end of town.

Should I have done more? What does she need long term? Will I see her again? How can we possibly help every homeless person we meet in Roanoke? What happens next? In the two blocks we walked to church today we came in contact with two people without shelter during this storm.

I'm so grateful that Jesus placed us here but I'm still lost as to what it is we are supposed to do. I feel inadequate and ill-prepared for this undertaking but I know I'm here for a reason. Prayers are appreciated as we attempt to get plugged in to the unique needs of our community here.

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