Seven years ago, our family moved from southern Virginia to northeast Wisconsin. As you might expect, spring comes later here. Fall comes earlier. And winter is a much different experience in northeast Wisconsin than it was in southern Virginia. The same temperatures that seemed bone-chilling in Virginia are good reason to leave the mufflers and mittens at home in Wisconsin. Of course, many of the retired folks in my congregation here take their cue from the geese and fly south for the winter each year. Florida and Arizona are the desired destinations as they leave behind the piles of snow, the sub-zero temperatures, and the bitter cold wind. 

Set aside for a moment, if you will, the comfortable, climate-controlled setting in which you are probably sitting just now, and picture yourself l…