The cold snap finally snapped here in southern Ohio and yesterday’s high reached a balmy 40 degrees. It was still chilly though when I fed the birds in the morning, sliding a little on the glassy snow. Just before venturing out, I had cuddled up in bed in my new blue bedroom with the book “The Long Winter” by Laura Ingalls Wilder. I came back inside to make a hearty breakfast hash that would keep me full for hours.

I intentionally chose this Little House On The Prairie book for this week because I thought the hardships experienced by the Ingalls family and the fine folks of Walnut Grove would help to put into perspective the inconveniences I have been facing because of the cold and snow.

It tells the tale of one particularly harsh winter where a series of blizzards over several months left trains immobilized, houses buried up to their rooftops and families in dire need of coal for warmth and cooking. Folks in prospector shanties have snow blowing in through the walls and tar paper roofs peeling off in the wind. The Ingalls family have moved to town where they’re sealed up tight but they still run out of supplies, twisting hay into sticks to burn for warmth and cooking as they watch their supply of potatoes and wheat dwindle down to nearly nothing. 

They are hungry and cold. Their hands are raw from twisting hay and grinding wheat for loaves of bread that are stretched into meager meals. When the kerosene runs low, they go to bed early. When the wind howls, they entertain themselves by singing. When things seem so impossibly dark they may not survive, they keep going with hope that the spring thaw will come early and allow a train full of food to make it before people actually starve to death. 

Most people I know have nice, warm homes that can withstand the wind and cold. No one wants to pay the high heating bills but we find a way. We have plenty to eat and brave folks out there who plow the roads so we can make it to the store to buy the things we need for survival. We even have sturdy, enclosed vehicles to get us around. Some have four wheel drive vehicles. I just have a nice little car that handles well and the heated seats have kept me comfortable even on the days when the thermometer has topped out below zero. 

People like me don’t know what it means to truly do without or to suffer because of the weather. Of course, that hasn’t stopped folks from complaining. 

Drive a few hours south to the mountains of western North Carolina and you learn how quickly things can change even for modern folk with some resources. People who have lived in these mountains for generations lost everything in a hurricane, the likes of which they had never seen. You  know, life in Appalachia has never been easy but a catastrophic hurricane has made these mountains unlivable for so many people. 

The 24 hour news cycle has no time to tell you about the suffering down there because they’re too busy chasing the next lucrative tale that will get clicks rather than the ones that need told. But there are people living in tents and campers not rated for cold temperatures in an area known for harsh winters. They’re hungry, cold and tired. They’re demoralized because they have so few resources and choices of their own.They’re at the mercy of strangers and what donations they receive.

It’s heartbreaking and frustrating. It’s shameful that we have such short attention spans that we can’t be bothered to care about people suffering in more than one place at a time. It’s shameful how far we have fallen as a civilization that our fellow Americans in need will just continue to suffer with little acknowledgement. 

And others who are rich with resources –  heat, a roof and four walls, plenty of food and the comfort of home – will continue to whine about some snow flurries and cold. 

Personally, I will continue to do what I can to reduce my own energy consumption and will continue to be glad for the home in have. I will be grateful for the pantry full of food and the warmth generated by a casserole in the oven and all the entertainment and comforts provided by this sanctuary I call home. 

If you remember nothing else, here are three takeaways to consider:

1. The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder is much different than the tv show but well worth your time. It goes a long way to put things into perspective for a modern human who needs to remember the hardships of those who came before us. 
2. There are Americans who are suffering at this very moment. They are invisible and ignored but badly need help. This isn’t a drill. History will judge us harshly for how we have handled this catastrophe and others to come. 
3. If you have a roof over your head, plenty to eat, a reliable income and a place to call your own, I hope you will consider incorporating a practice of gratitude into your daily habits. 

I witnessed something lovely in my community this week. Volunteers enlisted others and pooled resources to open a warming station in our county seat. People were given a judgement free place to warm up, enjoy a good meal and be entertained. Some spent the night. I think others just came for the food and fellowship, a kind of warmth that is stronger than the cold. In the process, volunteers met some folks in need of more help than could be provided by a warming station and got them some assistance. 

There are currently programs around the U.S. to help pay winter heating bills and places like food pantries to help folks supplement their groceries. If you or someone you know is in need, I hope you’ll consider accepting assistance to make your life easier. 

There’s still much winter ahead.