Last week when the arctic air hit the Northland, I started receiving texts from my southern friends. "Just checking on you...Are you ok...?" I realized after the third text that Duluth temperatures must have hit the news. I was so knee deep in upcoming event preparations it took me a couple beats to figure out what they were talking about! Why? Because we're used to cold weather around here. Sure, we like to complain about it. But we know how to dress. We have buildings with insulation. Our bodies are acclimated (well, for the most part...!) As I told my friends - we're built for this. I was more concerned for them as they searched for sweaters and heaters to make it through their own cold snap.

Faith formation is a lot like living in a cold climate. You don't prepare for it when it hits...you prepare months ahead of time, and over the course of a lifetime. How are we preparing young people to know how to dress for faith? How are we surrounding them with the love of Christ that will insulate them from the harsh winds of this world? How are equipping them with faith practices that will sustain them through whatever they may face?

This is the work you do. With the Holy Spirit working through you, you are built for this work. Thank you for answering the call to nurture faith in young people. You are in my prayers as you walk with them in the cold (and warm!) days of their life and faith journey!