Just two days ago, I was enthralled by these fuzzy buds which called me to touch and stroke their soft, feathery casings in the cold winter air. And today, as we approach Solstice, here in the Pacific Northwest we are being blanketed in snow. Yet these furry beings remain unchanged in the cold snowy weather, and this amazes me—their endurance through the winter—patiently transitioning through the cycle of the seasons. 

Lao Tzu wrote, “Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.” This seems to be the very message that my furry friends, the tree buds, are sending me. 

I send to all of you my deep-felt wishes for a healthy and joyous holiday celebration with your friends and loved ones. 

-Rev. Ann Evans