Tis the Season…Well, Sort of.

Written By Chaplain Chris Belfield
I have a friend that I have known for almost 20 years, and we converse regularly on Facebook due to distance.  At least I thought this person was a friend.  As of two weeks ago, my friend has begun a daily posting of how many days are left until Christmas.  This is too much!  My sensibilities of what is right in the world have been assailed.  Why do I need a daily reminder of how few days are left and how much I will invariably leave undone until the last two weeks before Christmas?  I'm a man. It's what we do.  However, to be fair to my friend, I will give them the benefit of the doubt in that they are trying to help me plan better and perhaps get into the spirit of the season a bit earlier than would be assumed as normal.
Now, I am a fairly structured individual in some respects; in that, there is a time and season for all things.  Sounds almost Biblical, doesn't it? I’ll get to that in a moment. Some would possibly observe that I am almost obsessive about the days when the seasons change over. Almost.  I mean, the seasons are well defined on the calendars for a purpose, right?  And there are certain natural assumptions for each season – even here on the North Shore, though our warm seasons are a bit more abbreviated compared to the cold, and colder seasons. I have previously discussed the obvious season of road construction as well as building construction.  Now we are into the season of doing.  There seems to be so much we want to do and simultaneously, so many things that can be done.  So many choices. Where does one start?
Let’s see. Now that we are in the first week of July there is the 4th of July, which will be celebrated in many communities.  Take your pick. In Two Harbors, we have the Houle Information Center chock-full of information regarding the regional opportunities and points of interest.  Classic cars have begun making their appearances around the area which means there should be some car shows available.  The THUG is back in full force.  That would be the Two Harbors Ukulele Group, all primed up to entertain longtime
fans and new ones to be garnered. Then there is the long-awaited return of the cherished Heritage Days and Bay Days in Two Harbors and Silver Bay respectively.
All along the North Shore, from Duluth to Grand Portage, each community has seasonal offerings to appeal to every age group, and lifetime memories to be made.  Nature itself abounds with hundreds of miles of hiking and biking trails, numerous waterfalls, whose grandeur can easily compare with those of world-famous falls.  That is just my opinion, of course, and I am a bit biased for the home turf.
Yes, the Christmas season is coming, but the current season has so much to offer.  If you are an area resident, what are some of the area's offerings that you may not have experienced before, or that it's been a while?  If you are not from the North Shore area or have not been here in a while, well, it's time to come on up and explore all there is to do and enjoy some great Minnesota Nice hospitality.  For all, please have a great and safe season.
Oh yes, a reminder also that every day of every season is a great time to appreciate all the blessings God has given us to enjoy.  It's the right reason this season to say, thank you, Father.
Psalm 74:17   (NIV)
“It was you who set all the boundaries of the earth; you made both summer
and winter.”
May you be blessed by God's word.    
Chris