Rufus Will Fool You

Here in Tennessee, the spring is a time of excitement and confusion, especially when it comes to the weather. You start believing things are warming up, spring has sprung, and it's all going to be hunky dory. Then,...the next winter hits. There is Redbud Winter, Dogwood Winter, Locust Winter, Blackberry Winter, and Whippoorwill (or Britches) Winter. It never seems to fail. Once you get comfortable and use to the warmer weather, the next winter strikes again. Then, it turns into summer, and it's like we skipped spring altogether.

 

This is the way Rufus works. He likes to get you comfortable and fooled into believing he has left you alone, that you have defeated him, that everything is going to be smooth sailing. Then,...WHAM! He hits you like a freight train. Just like all those little cold-snaps, he tries to freeze you out, stunt your growth, and kill off whatever seemed to be blossoming a little too quickly for his liking.

 

This constant rocking of the boat can leave you feeling frustrated and defeated, but you can overcome his timely attacks through consistency.

 

See, when those cold-snaps hit, we usually start remembering to bring a coat "just in case" again, we start planning for the worst but hoping for the best, and we ensure our preparations are solid. It's when we get fooled into comfort that we become unsettled. Rufus knows when we are good and fooled. He lingers in the dark stalking us until this time comes so he can make his next barrage of attacks at just the right time.

 

Don't get complacent. Don't let him fool you. Stick to your routine preparations and affirmations, develop friendships that keep him at bay, and keep your boat even keeled.