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Three days after the big snowstorm my daughter and I went out to the front lawn to make a snow sculpture. We like ambitious projects: snow dogs, or cats, or rabbits. This time we started out to make a big squirrel, but as we began to shape our pile of snow it quickly turned into a snow-lion. Soon our house was guarded by the king of beasts, with flowing mane and long looping tail; worthy, I said to myself, of the steps of City Hall.

After three days of sun, southerly winds, and rain, we are left with an icy lump roughly the size of a lamb. I should have videotaped the whole process and called the film "March: In With a Roar, Out With a Bleat."

It's been a long, cold winter by our New York standards, and I know of a few folks who are plain sick of it. To get the harshest weather in February makes us feel like we will never break free. The roaring lion has moved in to stay, or so it seems.

Now is the time to remind ourselves, "This, too, will pass." Our lives will always be punctuated with trials and challenges that appear monumental, impassable, immovable. But that is truly only their appearance. Faith will see us through anything. God will never give us more than we can handle, or less strength than we need. We stand in faith before a mountain, we wait, and behold, God moves the mountain for us.

Does this apply to the threat of war, that human evil which so many now say is necessary and inevitable, while many more of us remain unconvinced and stand on principle against it? Yes; we do believe in the power of faith and of radical love to conquer evil. We must rely on God to melt away the largest obstacle and vanquish the deadliest adversary. Jesus "the Lion of Judah, has conquered" (Rev. 5:5) because he is also "the Lamb of God." (John 1:29) His power is manifest in meekness and humility.

In this fearful time, we pray that God's mercy will be with us all: with leaders of nations and with little children, with soldiers and with marchers for peace, with Christians and Muslims, with enemies as well as friends. We give our troubles to God, whether great or small, because God is able to deliver us! Have faith!