The ancients believed that extremes of nature---storms, volcanic eruptions, eclipses--tell us something about the human culture.

The more extreme, the more compelling the statement of nature about "how we're doing" as human inhabitants of the land.

What is the current record setting snowfall telling me about DC? I'll tell you what I think.

I think that such extremes of weather tell us that we are not nearly as in control of our destinies as we, in our egotism, would like to think.

We are here in the blink of an eye for but a blink of an eye, and the rhythms of nature are vastly more powerful and in control than we silly little people believe we are.

The snowfall of 2010 is a wakeup call to our frailty, and we had best show a bit more respect and appreciation for nature and for the gods or other spiritual entities that we consider our superiors.