The weariness that settles in
during the long, dark days 
of winter
reminds me
of the Power 
that lifted me from
the depths of nothingness 
at the bottom of my soul.
Even when I covered my eyes
from Its light,
It persisted
in lifting me to places 
where I could finally see – 
the hope of a new morning
watching the sun rise over the mountain tops
and 
knowing the simple blessing of a clean day
as my tired head hits the soft pillow at night. 
Why in the world would I have ever 
shielded my eyes 
from Its light? 
Because the long, dark days 
of winter
mask the beauty of this world 
with a grayness more oppressive
than the darkest night. 
Yet just when I begin
to sink back into the 
seemingly endless winter gray
a stunningly red cardinal 
flits across my way,
and oh, how grateful I am 
for the persistence 
of that
Power.