Snow

 Here in the UK, winter is coming, but I never get down beat about it, as winter has its upsides - winter has snow. 

A snowy day out in Britain’s miniature mountains is a magical experience. A start before dawn is best, when the world is at its coldest and quietest, when puddles have a glass like icy lid and no one else is about to break the silence. You ascend with the sun under an arctic sky that is the perfect blue against the as yet unlit mountains. A torch is not needed as the path is the lighter streak guiding you on between still trees that have a contented air of slumber about them. 

Gaining altitude is hard work, you have heavy boots, thick clothes and a rucksack full of kit for the day ahead, but this only makes the rewards greater. At first, snow drags on the feet but higher  up it hardens into polystyrene like neve that releases you into freedom of movement due to the fact you can put your cramponed foot anywhere white. Upon reaching the top, the full glory of an expansive winter view is wonderously revealed. 

Dazzling snow is everywhere. A sea of mountains surround you and valley’s era far below. A white sparkling blanket covers the world. The sky is a pure blue with lighter shades where it touches the land and a darker Kelinien hue over head. The sun is low and so bright it can not be gazed upon, but the day time moon is there as if it doesn’t want to miss out on the spectacle of a perfect windless day. The untrodden snow has made the world pure. Hidden the consequences of ignorant men form view and refreshed the world as if anew. 

You descend a sinuous sharp snow covered arete with care, feeling guilty that your footsteps have destroyed a work of great beauty. But you selfishly continue and scramble up to the next summit to greedily repeat the experience. At the top its time to eat and reflect more deeply. 

Like snow, religion covers the reality of our world. Hides our mud, rubble and miss deeds, so we can delude ourselves that we are not responsible and it’s all part of some superiors great plan. We don’t need to think about what we can’t see, or don’t know, and can just plod on, through the day blindly wondering and thankful for the immense beauty and joys of experience. 

For the sunshine of the religious delusion makes everything sparkle under its snowy blanket, no matter how bad. Its white unquestionable purity makes people living in cities of rubble pronounce “God is great” and others state that violent selfish humans are made in gods image and humans are superior to animals. 

But how I need those snowy days, just like many need religion. On such days, I can forget about the man made mess we are living in and be reminded that even when the snow has melted and the sky is full of turmoil, damp and grey, we are still living in a garden of Eden. 

It’s still there, that paradise, you just have to look a bit harder when there’s no snow.