How I love Winter: and what would Calvin do? (February 3 2008)

One of my favorite comics growing up was Calvin and Hobbs. The strip was cancelled when I was in middle school due to the retirement of its author/writer Bill Watterson. One of the comics that ran through my mind the other day was one where Calvin loses a quarter in the snow. Hobbes tells him that he is just going to have to wait until spring, when the snow melts. Calvin is, of course, outraged at the thought of having to wait to find his quarter. The final panel of the strip shows Calvin outside with a hairdryer melting the snow in an effort to find his lost quarter. Why exactly am I telling you this? I am glad you asked. I actually have several reasons. The first is because I still love Calvin and Hobbes. I own all the books except for the large, all encompassing 3 volume set published a few years ago; and someday I will have that one as well. The second reason involves the quarter (or quata if you happen to be from Boston) The quarter reminds me of the parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin in the Bible. In both cases something is lost and once it is found there is great rejoicing. With Calvin we never know if he finds his money or not, though probably more on the “not” side of things. For me the whole point is that he is searching for it. He didn’t just lose it and say “oh well, I guess I will never find my quarter” but he went to find it. First he got his best friend to help. When the two of them couldn’t find it, his friend advised waiting until the searching would be easier. But instead Calvin goes into the house and gets a hair dryer, determined to melt all the snow in his yard if that is what it takes. He wants his quarter back. In many ways this could be looked at as a representation on the spiritual life and our faith in God. We may go on a retreat or have a deep and personal experience with our savior, but then that initial bliss fades or we sin and everything feels different. It is important to realize that regardless of how we feel, God is there welcoming us with open arms. If we sin, then we go to Confession and we keep pursuing God. We must seek him out with the same recklessness that inspired Calvin to fight Old Man Winter with nothing more than a hair dryer. This is what we are made for and our lives will seem empty and meaningless unless we seek fulfillment in our Creator. All that and I just want winter to be over.