I've always loved the Christmas carol Good King Wenceslas and the snow this morning made me think about the story it tells. St. Wenceslas ventures out into the snow and cold to bring firewood and rations to a poor man, a great symbol of Christ venturing into the dark and cold world to bring us salvation and hope. He asks his young squire to follow him, but instructs him to step in his footsteps so that the cold of the snow doesn't chill him, showing us that when Christ asks us to follow him in service to those in need, he asks us to follow him closely and enjoy his protection and grace. We might not be in the Christmas season anymore, but the cold and the snow can evoke powerful images of our faith like the story of Good King Wenceslas...