the beautiful side of fog

“Now I walk in beauty/Beauty is before me/Beauty is behind me/Above and below me”

That was a choir warm-up round thinger that we sang (and perhaps rolled our eyes to) in high school. It came to mind a lot a few days ago. A little background: it has been foggy, damp, and chilly (but not usually below-freezing). The day beforehand was especially foggy. It was foggy when I woke up and it only got progressively foggier. When I went to the grocery store at 6pm (a 10-min. walk), it was so foggy that, although a straight shot, I was pretty disoriented. Add to this sporadic firecrackers going off nearby…it (fog/darkness/loud explosions) gave me the heebie-jeebies. I went home and locked myself in…and grumbled to myself aloud for who knows how long.

The next morning, however, was a morning incredible Beauty. It was quite a bit clearer, and I mustered up the self-motivation to go on my monthly jog. Once I got out of the labyrinth of walls, gates, and macadam, I realized I was jogging through Beauty…or Narnia…or a place that had been fogged over long enough to create enough moisture for frost to appear Glorious. It was amazing…amazing, I tell you :) It was like big, white, fluffy pipecleaners everywhere…only prettier. Or like big, fat, bleached caterpillars covering everything. I’ve seen frosts before (of course), and I’ve also seen ice storms. This was different. And I almost missed it, because it glazed over and then melted by the time I trotted home.

Although gray, damp, chilly weather wouldn’t be something I’d stick on my Christmas list, I am grateful for the good-morning present of Beauty. I wonder how often Beauty is right in front of me, and I don't see it or recognize it.

i really wish i had a picture of it!!