Bleak midwinter

Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone; snow had fallen snow on snow, snow on snow, in the bleak midwinter long, long ago. –Christina Rossetti


I admit it: I am a fan of winter. I really am! I love the way sparkling snowflakes catch the light as they fall on quiet landscapes; listening to the crunch crunch crunch of frozen snow underfoot; the pristine beauty of fresh drifts of snow, patiently waiting for giggling children to make perfect angels, or a towering snowman with a carrot for a nose.

But the other side of winter has settled over us, the frigid, dismal, isolating side. Warm jammies and hot cocoa are my new best friends. The kitties snuggle up close and refuse to be disturbed. I’ve decided that sometimes, there’s just no good reason to go outside. Period.

It is midwinter. And it is bleak. And yet.

Underneath that cold, crusty surface, something miraculous is going on. God is at work; new life is incubating, tender shoots of springtime lying in wait for the first whiff of springtime. Just as in the beginning, Creation may appear formless and devoid of life; in reality, the Hand of the Creator is at work.

The God of All That Is will use whatever is at hand to demonstrate just how deeply God cares for us. God is in the doldrums of winter as well as in the summer sunshine, in the darkness as well as the light.

Where will you find God today? Your heart knows the way.

Monday, January 8 Is there someone you haven’t seen in church for a couple weeks (even though it’s been miserably cold)? Pray for them; then take a few minutes to drop them a line or make a phone call. Ezekiel 34:11-16

Tuesday, January 9 If your neighborhood is like mine, we often lose touch during the cold months. Reach out today to a neighbor whom you haven’t seen recently. Romans 13:9-10

Wednesday, January 10 Today (or another day this week), if you stop for a coffee or a bite to eat, consider paying for the person behind you in line. (Once begun, this often spreads like wildfire and goes on for a long time.) Luke 6:37-38

Thursday, January 11 Pray today for those who are hospitalized, especially those who have come from out of town to be served by our wonderful health communities here. Pray, as well, for those travelling for surgical care. 1 Peter 2:9-10

Friday, January 12 Pray for folks who volunteer in our community: in schools, in hospitals, serving meals to the homeless. Consider volunteering your time or perhaps making a donation to a local organization. Ezekiel 36:26-27

Saturday, January 13 Today, pause and think for a few minutes: how is your life a living Gospel? 1 Corinthians 1:17

Sunday, January 14 Pray for our local students of all ages. Give thanks for their curious minds. Proverbs 1:20-21

And God stepped out on space, and he looked around and said:
I'm lonely-- I'll make me a world.
--James Weldon Johnson

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