A little too early to be up.
I'm gonna be lookin' for this hour by dinner time tonight, but I'm awake now. Time for the Elixir.
Quietly, old boy. Quietly.
I softly thud past the living room window. The street light on the corner shows falling snow.
From the half-block distance it looks like fine dots being sifted over the yards, like powdered sugar on cake.
Huh.
Banking the turn, (unnecessarily it would seem), I move absently into the kitchen. A quick glance out the kitchen window. I can't see much across the darkened garden between apple trees.
Flipping the switch by the back door, the two floodlights up in the gable end of the house flick on.
Whoa.
The lights pointing almost straight down show snow falling just on the other side of the glass.
It's not the fine, light powdered-sugar snow I saw down the block.
It's confetti-sized flakes, a celebration of sorts, filling in the tracks and walkways with sparkling glitter, making the tracks and paths look like they never existed. Like a glittery blanket on a well-made bed.
I turn to sneak a quarter cup of the Elixir at the half-way point of brewing. I return to the kitchen window as I take a sip.
Oh, mama.
That be strong Elixir. It's like licking a wall outlet.
(Don't ask me how I know that.)
Now I'm awake and fully cognizant of my surroundings.
Reeeeeeeeally cognizant.
The Elixir is turbo-charging my thoughts.
Huh.
Snow . . .
is like Grace.
Yep. Just like Grace.
When viewed academically and philosophically, it is a very neat concept.
Merciful Grace.
Hope for the hopeless.
The acrostic of "God's Riches At Christ's Expense".
Pretty cool. Very cool.
And cerebral.
Intellectual.
But then I look at Grace up close and personal.
Right up in my face.
Covering up all my tracks and mistakes of yesterday.
Giving me a sparkling clean slate.
It hits home.
Big time.
I get a clean slate I don't deserve. I can't earn or buy it.
All I have to do is accept it.
And Him.
Completely.
Wow. Grace.
Amazing, eh?