Tag: winter solstice

Categories
Christianity Christmas holiday

Christmas Stress

Christmas Stress

Frequently, we feel less peace and joy and more Christmas stress. With two days to go, it feels like the stress level has gotten to an all-time high.

  • That special toy the daughter wants won’t be available until next Christmas… or the next decade
  • Travel looks to be getting complicated with another wave of the virus. Should we even go to Granny’s?
  • The office has never been this busy before Christmas. Where did all this business come from anyway?

Christmas stress has always been prevalent. I wrote about it and drew this cartoon in 2012. But of course, the last two years have had added layers of stress. We just don’t know what the future holds. Short-term and long-term planning seems impossible.

Cartoon of a boy with a wreath on his head

What do we do when the stress is getting to us? How can we keep from taking it out on our loved ones with a strategically placed wreath? Slow down, take a deep breath and remember the reason for the season.

“When they [Magi or Wise Men] saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

“And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.”

Matthew 2:10–11 (KJV) via Bible Gateway.com

Remember the Why

Why do we celebrate? It isn’t about any of these:

  • The perfect present under the tree
  • Getting together with family
  • A Martha Stewart, or Pioneer Woman-inspired spread on a snowy Christmas morning

It is about a baby and the hope he brought a cold, dark world. The winter solstice has come and the days are already getting longer. Winter will be here for a while, but summer is coming. The Light of the World has come into the world as well. We can slow down, celebrate, and know things will be all right.

Categories
motivation

In the Bleak Midwinter

In the bleak midwinter

It’s a cold, frosty morning as I write this. In the northern hemisphere, Winter officially arrives at 10:59 AM EST. It will be the shortest day of the year and I am looking forward to the sun making a valiant effort to beat back the darkness and cold for another six months.

As a child, I was intrigued by how winter came just four days before Christmas. It was as if the world acknowledged how dark and dismal things have gotten, but then reminded us that Christmas is coming. I’ve written a few thoughts on this time of year before. It’s a time that reminds me to persevere through the dark and cold times.

Winter Solstice Sunrise in Southwest Ohio
Winter Solstice Sunrise in Southwest Ohio, 2019

One Christmas carol we don’t hear much is, “In the Bleak Midwinter.” It’s a soft, contemplative song. I like how it makes me pause and think.

In the Bleak Midwinter: Susan Boyle

Winter causes us to pause and contemplate. In the colder regions, there isn’t much to do except stare outside and pine for warmer days. Winter reminds us that the world is a cold place. Christmas gives us hope that a little ember will grow into a fire.

This year feels like an even more bleak time. We thought we beat the coronavirus only to have the Omicron variant blaze onto the scene. The news is bleak and dark. However, Christmas is in four days. Summer is just 181 days away. Things will get better. Just hold on; brighter days are coming!

Categories
motivation Running

Thoughts on a Winter Solstice Run

Winter Solstice Sunrise in Southwest Ohio
Winter Solstice Sunrise in Southwest Ohio

After a couple of very cold days, this morning was a perfect time for a winter morning run. The temperature was hovering around the freezing mark. Most of the snow had melted on the asphalt trail, though there were some snowy and icy spots where trees have kept the sun at bay.

  • Winter scene along the Wolf Creek Recreational trail, Brookville, Ohio
    Winter Along the Wolf Creek Recreational Trail
  • Winter Solstice Sunrise in Southwest Ohio
    Winter Solstice Sunrise in Southwest Ohio
  • Early winter morning along the Wolf Creek Recreational Trail
    Early Winter Morning Along the Wolf Creek Recreational Trail
  • Winter farm field near US 40, Brookville, Ohio
    Winter Farm Field Near US 40, Brookville, Ohio

I noticed a few things on my morning run:

  • The sun was shining through the clouds. Frequently this time of year, the sun shines in the morning and it becomes overcast later. If I want to see the sun, I need to get up for it.
  • No one else was on the trail. Yet there were scores of human footprints, bike tracks, and animal tracks. I don’t always realize that though I am alone, many have come before me.
  • I rarely notice when the wind is at my back, but I know when I am heading into it. I need to remember to take the time to thank those that have given me a tailwind instead of focusing on the headwinds.
  • Sore, tight muscles come when I’ve taken a few days off. But after a couple of miles, I forget they were aching. It reminds me to push through and know that things will get easier.

Winter officially arrives tonight. Seasons come and go. Each has their good times and challenges. May you have a great Christmas and new year. Let’s welcome the new decade, be positive and do the things that lead to success.