It’s mid-January and we’re expecting another 4 to 6 inches of snow overnight and into tomorrow. We still have what looks to me like over a foot of snow on the ground. And that snow is more like a big solid block of ice now because of the recent warm days and rain followed by colder temperatures.
Already I’m longing for spring. I swear…
January is the slowest month!
As I get older I’ve noticed how quickly months fly by. But these winter months don’t go by so quickly for me, especially January. My heart is already asking, “When will it be spring?” I imagine how nice it would be if the weather began a slow warming in February and we saw an early spring in March. But the weather will be as it is no matter what I imagine.
Yesterday morning we woke to a little less than an inch of heavy wet new snow. When I went out to scoop it off the driveway I was amazed at how heavy and difficult to scoop it was. I felt it’s heaviness weighing me down. In fact, I ended up scooping a little less than half the driveway and left the rest of the snow for Jon to scoop.
On days like today with more snow on the way I long to escape to a warmer clime. This longing surprises me as I usually feel very at home being here working on photographs, writing, or taking walks outdoors. And I don’t get stir crazy or lonely. This winter feels harder than usual to me.
Finding Grace
Meanwhile, grace is always present. It is here, but being human, I often don’t experience it. My attention is focused elsewhere, on what I want or don’t want. Then, slowly, quietly, I catch a glimpse of grace through a side glance of my eyes or a sense of stillness in my mind. I stop and pay attention. There it is! Hiding in plain sight, patiently, silently available at any moment should I simply take the time to slow down and notice what is here now.
Be nothing.
Do nothing.
Get nothing.
Become nothing.
Seek nothing.
Relinquish nothing.
Be as you are.
Rest in God.— Miranda Macpherson, The Way of Grace: The Transforming Power of Ego Relaxation
Grace has a way of stopping me in my tracks. My cup is filled up. Instead of rejecting these winter days I simply surrender into and through them accepting whatever emotions arise. Sometimes a book or a nature scene opens me and fills me.
Recently I’ve been enjoying two books. The first is called The Way of Grace: The Transforming Power of Ego Relaxation by Miranda Macpherson. And the second one is The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness and Healing in a Toxic Culture by Gabor Maté, MD.
The Way of Grace invites me to soften and be present. The Myth of Normal, talks about our culture, healing, and illness in ways that resonate with my view of our culture and its current toxicity
If I could distill my message and insert it into that beautiful cinematic moment, I would have Robin Williams look all of us in the eye—including himself—and say with assurance: “It’s not your fault… and it’s not personal.” It’s about our hurting world, manifesting the illusions and myths of a culture alienated from our essence. (Chapter 18)
— Gabor Maté, The Myth of Normal
How are you this mid-January day, my friends? What do you long for? Here is my wish for you today…
Something opens our wings. Something makes boredom and hurt disappear. Someone fills the cup in front of us: We taste only sacredness.”
―
May you walk in beauty.
Note: These photos are from earlier this year. I went back through previous photos and found a few that I really liked that I had not noticed before.
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