While the dark days of February are slowly brightening, imperceptibly but certainly, we are forced indoors until the days become warmer and drier. This confinement can feel a relief for some, but for many (especially those sharing space with others) it can spark frayed tempers. Bored, overactive children and frustrated adults wondering how much longer they can stay sane, make for the onset of real winter blues.
Taking some time alone and apart can be helpful, and perhaps this can be the season you insist on a daily silent prayer ritual, where you set aside a short space in a different room, to be with Jesus alone. In fact, teaching your children to have a few minutes alone can be a useful skill they can draw on later on in life. Being alone is safe, because that's where God meets us.
This month, as the days slowly lengthen, we are invited to attend to the growing light, both around us and within us. Julian of Norwich, the fifteenth century mystic, reminds us: "Love was his meaning. Who showed it to you? Love. What did he show you? Love. Why did he show it? For love." As light increases, let us prepare our hearts to receive more of that love.
