Appreciating the Season of Deadness

In my Celtic prayer book, the devotional recently said, “The soul goes through many seasons, seasons of new life and promise, of full fruit, of loss and then of apparent deadness with hope for new life again.”

That last season is where we are literally, in nature, right now. And it’s where some of us are spiritually, in our souls.  I have trouble appreciating this season.  I love sun, warmth, flowers, gardens, growing things.  Just the idea that things are dead or dormant is not naturally appealing to most of us.  Plenty of people appreciate the colder weather, but the majority of people still prefer warmer (57% warmer to 29% colder).  However, this season still has its purpose for us, literally and spiritually.  The Celtic prayer book goes on to say, “The secret is to appreciate the value of these changes and gain the benefits of each and not become too discouraged.”  I smiled at the last phrase “too discouraged.”  Of course we are going to become discouraged.  The secret is to not become “too” discouraged.

Here’s what I am trying to appreciate about the literal winter.  I’ll write about the spiritual winter next week.  

 1) It’s much easier to run in cold weather than hot.  I warm up quickly even in 20-30 degree weather and the cold air is invigorating.  

2)  We can turn the fireplace on.  Nothing is cozier or homier than a fireplace. 

 3)  Since there are not outside chores, we can set this time aside to do some indoor projects. This is when I paint or sort through magazines/catalogs or straighten a section of the attic or get rid of clothes.  

4)  Dark comes early, so we watch more movies and tv shows.  Currently watching “Cranford,” “The Chosen,” “Don’t Look Up,” “All Creatures Great and Small,” “Good Omens,” “The Chair,” “Minari,” and all kinds of PBS shows.

 5)  It’s easier for some people to get more rest because the darkness lasts longer and the sun doesn’t wake us up.  Plus, just lying in front of that cozy fireplace. 

6) More time to read.  I’ve read Cold Sassy Tree (recommend), Train to Estelline and the others in the trilogy (recommend), Jesus and John Wayne (strongly recommend), A Song for Sissy Bradley (recommend), The Corrections (carefully recommend with content warnings), The Nightingale, The God-Shaped Brain, Anne of Ingleside, and currently reading Chasing Francis.  Some of these are paper, some Kindle when I can’t sleep in the night, and some audiobook.

So give us some ideas for how you don't become too discouraged in the dead season and how you find the benefits.