Dear Friends,
The kitchen window on the second floor looks out at a group of trees I claim as my own. I see them every morning as I drink coffee. Snow has fallen all through this past night. Now my trees, the pines, are laden with white snow. It makes everything seem so quiet and clean. There is a birch there in this collection, too. Its leafless limbs are trimmed in the snow they support. It has been snowing for the past two weeks – off and on - the wet, heavy kind of snow. Here in Sweden, kids don’t get a day off from school because of the snow – never, ever. I put my coffee out on the cooling shelf at the back door. That snow is getting deeper. And it is supposed to be spring. It is Swedish to walk in the early morning snow, before any cars have been out to disturb the scene with tracks. The bridge over the river is down the hill – away form the village. It is about a half mile walk. At the bridge the ice had opened back to reveal dark water. There were swans there because that is what they search for – open water. A family of deer wandered along the banks, eating the grass under the trees. I suppose they drink the water there, too. I take pictures of all this stuff and the people think I’m nuts.

Back in my house now and why is it that I can’t find my coffee cup? On the shelf outside, I guess. Muesli for breakfast – that means, no cooking – just Muesli and soy milk.

A window was broken and I know who did it. A little 4 year old boy was playing outside and wanted to get the attention of his father, who was down in the basement. He was talking with the grownups. So, this little guy by the name of Markus, tapped on the window with the long handle of the broom used for cleaning the porch of snow. Surprise - Markus got the attention of his father – after the glass shattered. But never fear, there were two panes of glass and the second inner pane is still in tact. We in the States would say that Markus had a shattering experience. But you can’t blame a little kid with a Biblical name like Markus.

Did I tell you that the Church here had their Annual Outing At The Beach? There were about 30 from the Church – many kids. They arrived at the beach on snow mobiles, over the ice. It was an island in the center of a big, long, nearby lake. You can’t get to the island on foot in the summer. There is a high hill in the center and the kids had their plastic sledges for fast, downhill transportation. They had a fire going – coffee brewing in a pot that looked like it was dragged there by Trappist Monks. They served lots of long, thin hot dogs out of a big can placed right in the fire - along with hot mustard and rolls.

Today was Maundy Thursday and I held a service centering on Gethsemane – which turned out to be mostly about the Cross. I wish you all a Blessed Easter and “He Is Risen Indeed”.

Love,
George Wilson