Snow Day

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Snow Day

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Snow Day

Written by Mitch Ditkoff

Thursday, 06 January 2011 10:49

Growing up in New York, there were three things I found utterly amazing: the accents of people from other places, baseball and snow days. If you're from California, Mexico or Hawaii, you probably know what the first two are all about. But the third? Allow me to explain.

A snow day, for those of you who have never experienced winter, is an unexpected day off from school granted by a benevolent universe. You go to bed at night, dreading your history test the next day, and wake up with three feet of snow outside your window — your mother telling you (having just heard it on the radio) that school is closed.

It's a snow day!

Somehow, while you slept, the whole world shut down. Everything came to a halt. The only thing you can see out your window is a solitary bird looking for food and the kid next door, arms outstretched, making snow angels.

You jump for joy! Yahoo! Hallelujah!

Gone is the need to rush through breakfast. Gone is the need to catch the bus. Gone is the need to perform.

All bets are off. Your time is your own. You are free!

You look out the window and everything is white. The jagged edges of the world have been softened, curved and relaxed. Everything is still, as if the God you've heard so much about in Sunday school has just hit the pause button.

You have time to slow down, time to do nothing at all — and feel really good about it. After all, this isn't a sick day, it's a snow day — a complete and utter gift... an unexpected bit of grace... an inheritance you didn't realize was on its way.

For me, being able to experience the Knowledge that Maharaji teaches is a bit like that.

And the ultimate beauty of the whole thing? I don't have to wait for an "Act of God," while I sleep, to enjoy its benefits. It's with me every second of the day, if I care to pay attention.

Illustration by Sara Shaffer.

8 Comments

Chuck makes this comment

Snow Day

Thursday, 20 January 2011

I grew up in Philadelphia so I know what you are talking about. But from a broader perpestive, this shows how bad the American education system is that kids would dread going to school. If I were a teacher and could teach the way that I wanted to, I would make it so the kids would enjoy being in the class. In the Yequana village, kids are being brought up the same way that they have been brought up for hundreds of thousands of years. The kids there never fight. Also the parents never tell the child what to do. It is always up to the child to choose what they want to do.
Claudia makes this comment

Snow Day

Saturday, 15 January 2011

YYYYYES!! Exactly as you say! And what a nice PAINTING. It conveies that feeling just perfectly. Thank you for your accurate description, very tasty.
Sally Rae Rogers makes this comment

Snow Day

Friday, 14 January 2011

Yes I always love snow days. But i never heard them compared to Knowledge! The radio or television would be on to listen to ""the no school announcements" Sometimes the town next to yours had no school but you did. You had to hear your town announced to know you were free.
Steve Kowarsky makes this comment

Snow Day

Wednesday, 12 January 2011

Yes! A wonderful analogy, Mitch! Thank you for your clarity.
zahava shemesh makes this comment

Snow Day

Tuesday, 11 January 2011

thank you. every drop of snow is special and magic..special in the night..color change .. zahava
Susan Handel makes this comment

Snow Day

Sunday, 09 January 2011

Really fun to read--I just read it to my 12 year old son and we woke up to snow today so it was very fitting. Thank-you.
Jette makes this comment

Snow Day

Saturday, 08 January 2011

Thank you so much for 'Snow Day' ~ it was wonderful and 'Yes' it really feels like that in my life too! The blessing that Maharaji has offered us is really like that and to feel that we can experience that in every new day that comes along is truly wonderful. Thank you again ~ With Love
janice makes this comment

Snow Day

Friday, 07 January 2011

yep , snow days are being days days to just be yourself *** softball is fun as a kid too until adults get too involved in it and organize the fun out of it :( maybe that's why Knowledge is fun freedom time inside our inner child comes alive :)