Just when we thought we might be coming out of the woods, here we are at the end of another year, still mired in a crisis of viral spread and rising hospitalizations. How long will this go on? A few more weeks? Several more months? Or will it be years?

Evidently, we—like Frost—have miles to go before we sleep. Hopefully we can find it in ourselves to follow Frost’s example and capture moments of peace, contemplation, and appreciation during this long, hard journey. If we can do that, we might just arrive on the other side of this dense, dark forest stronger, wiser, more resilient people.

Wishing you a safe and healthy journey through 2022.

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

by Robert Frost

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound’s the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.