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| On this darkest night Shivering birds take flight, Flee the bitter cold E’er Winter takes hold. In our Winter, we Too from darkness flee, Turn from ceaseless strife Seeking hope in life. Yet soon the Earth will turn The days grow warm and long And with their joyful song The birds will then return. So as the bleak year’s done May we with hope now greet, Go forth in peace to meet, The new with voices one. May we wisdom and love, Goodwill and caring learn. And from our hatred turn To seek light from above. But first, this darkest night Let us be still, let us pause, Listen to nobler cause, And then go forth renewed, Forget battle and feud. Emerging from our night To seek the New Year’s light. -MW | Snow White Crystals Against Midnight Blue A wolf Howls Peace Solstice In Wintertimes of old When Earth grew dark and cold The people went inside. They sat by fireside, Lit the yule log bright To chase away the light. And o'er the years they learned That Earth forever turned And snow to Spring would cede. So we, in time of need, These times that are so rife, With discord, war and strife, Must look within to find The good within mankind The peace for which we yearn, Wiat for the Universe to turn Witness again the birth Of Goodwill,Peace on Earth! -MW |
Midwinter: A Time of Waiting
The Advent season, leading up to Christmas, is for Christians a time of waiting and preparation, of hope for a blessed event, the birth of Jesus. So too, was Solstice a time of waiting and hope. Forced inside by wintery weather and short, dark days, people lit fires and waited for the return of the sun and warmth, when they might begin to plant again. Every year, I feel this same sentiment of waiting and thus I have started a tradition of planting my bulbs during this time. Ideally, on Solstice itself, but more realistically in the weeks leading up to and following Christmas, I plant tulips, irises and daffodils, preparing for Spring. Then I wait. This year, last year’s bulbs are already pushing up through the soil. I have seen a tulip tree begin to bloom. Citrus of all kinds are producing. The kiwis are almost ripe. Thus the winter waiting is mitigated here in California with tangible signs of Spring. And there will be warm sunny days during the period of waiting here is California. But it is raining today, the air is cold, and I am inside, quite content to sit warm and dry, knowing that the bulbs I just planted are soaking up today’s rain and beginning to bulge. A season of waiting and hope, as it was in years past and shall be in years to come.
-MW
The Advent season, leading up to Christmas, is for Christians a time of waiting and preparation, of hope for a blessed event, the birth of Jesus. So too, was Solstice a time of waiting and hope. Forced inside by wintery weather and short, dark days, people lit fires and waited for the return of the sun and warmth, when they might begin to plant again. Every year, I feel this same sentiment of waiting and thus I have started a tradition of planting my bulbs during this time. Ideally, on Solstice itself, but more realistically in the weeks leading up to and following Christmas, I plant tulips, irises and daffodils, preparing for Spring. Then I wait. This year, last year’s bulbs are already pushing up through the soil. I have seen a tulip tree begin to bloom. Citrus of all kinds are producing. The kiwis are almost ripe. Thus the winter waiting is mitigated here in California with tangible signs of Spring. And there will be warm sunny days during the period of waiting here is California. But it is raining today, the air is cold, and I am inside, quite content to sit warm and dry, knowing that the bulbs I just planted are soaking up today’s rain and beginning to bulge. A season of waiting and hope, as it was in years past and shall be in years to come.
-MW