excerpt…
“Like many others, I love the hymn In the Bleak Midwinter. I always have. But as someone who walked to school through Saskatchewan’s -40 mornings, shovelled out cars in Montreal’s worst snowstorms, and now checks that the generator is ready when a Nova Scotia blizzard threatens, I’ve always felt that for Canadians, the timing of this favourite hymn is a little off.”
This is how my piece in the most recent Canada Lutheran (Jan/Feb 2025) begins. Since many folks I know and who follow this blog aren’t Lutheran, and won’t receive the wonderful ELCIC (Canadian Lutheran) magazine, I’m showing that piece here. Enjoy!
somethinggrand 
8 replies on “In the Bleak Midwinter of my Stroke”
Thanks for sharing this! Your reflections on community and vulnerability are so important, especially right now.
Thanks, Ken. Yes. Agreed. I often think of the cooperative movement these days, and how important it’s been to help communities weather political storms.
A lovely voice for a lovely heart.
Thanks for reading, André! You know all those Canadian faces of winter so well, and the snow-alley west of KW as well!
It’s been said above but I’ll echo it: Lovely words, Matthew! As a Jewish person, I’m not familiar with the hymn, but I asked my husband, John, a Christian (United Church), if he knew it, and not only does he know it, but he began to sing it! He’d always thought the second line was “frosty wind made known,” but we looked up the lyrics and it turns out (as I guess you know!) that it’s “moan,” not “known.” So, nice little spark of warmth there, Matthew, on a damp winter day over here in Montreal. 😊
You also got me thinking, in your wonderful piece, about something else that I want to write about in a blog post of my own. See? You just can’t help being inspiring, can you?! xox
Haha! I think we’re similar, in that our creativity can be sparked by what we read someone else doing or saying! I can just imagine John singing a bit of “In the Bleak Midwinter”! It truly is a beautiful hymn. I’ll look for your post!
Post not done yet – I was derailed by a fall John had. Did you see my FB post about it? It happened Sat. night March 8. My post is here: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BVef7jubs/
He’s OK now (apart from the darn Parkinson’s)!
I DID see that post, and poor John’s bandage. Parkinson’s is a real trial. Sending strength. I’m glad he has you in his life!