WHAT TO DO WITH YOUR WINTER-Y BLUES?
(This reflection is by Fr. James Martin, SJ, and appeared in the February monthly missalette, LIVING WITH CHRIST, under the title: "A FEBRUARY SPIRITUALITY". This year most of us in the middle and upper Midwest and the east coast can take these words to heart even into March; let them lead us to prayer and to greater hope. We added the parentheses in the reflection below.)
Maybe you live in a sunny clime, where the weather is delightful all year round, but for many of us -- me included -- February (now March, too) is probably the worst month of the year. At least meteorologically. In the northeastern United States, it means long, dreary days filled with snow, slush, and freezing rain.
This part of the Church's liturgical year can seem similarly bleak. Christmas is long gone and Lent is not quite here (it'll be here this week). In the middle of ordinary times things can seem a little too, well, ordinary. Even dull.
MAKING FEBRUARY (MARCH) WORK
What's a believer to do? First, you might take advantage of this time by deepening your spiritual life. Being stuck inside might be an opportunity to do a bit more praying. Cold weather and dark days are sometimes conducive to a more contemplative stance. It's easier to pray indoors when you're not tempted by beautiful weather outside. Can you see in this dreary time an invitation to spend more time with God in prayer?
Second, if you are feeling low, or struggle with sadness, desolation, or even depression, you might remember that even in these dark times there is hope....In a few weeks (we hope) in the northern climes, the snow will melt, the temperatures will rise, flowers will spring out of what looked like dead earth, and all will be green again. You trust in that, don't you? Then trust that God can bring something new out of your life, no matter how dark, or dreary, or slushy it may seem.
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