It’s November. The
brilliant color spectrum of leaves has faded to brown and most of them now
cover the ground. The day ends earlier
and the air is cooler. This part of the
season reminds me of sleep and hibernation.
It’s within this period of time where death and life cohabitate within
nature. Even as trees shed their leaves
and look lifeless, something almost magical is happening deep down in the soil
hidden far from our eyes.
What’s so interesting about the cutting edge of winter is
its necessity. Pruning stings but it’s a
necessary pain that leads to healthy growth for both plants and humanity. Think about it, without the pruning, the
plant would become stagnant and eventually die.
It is because of the love that God has for His creation that He allows
the cold and chill of both a physical and spiritual winter season. It is because He desires for His creation to
thrive and flourish, not just exist.
The challenge is not to lose hope while surrounded by the
cold and chill of a spiritual winter season.
I have lived in Indiana my entire life, one would think that I would be
use to the inconsistencies and unpredictable weather but I am not! I don’t think anyone can grow accustomed to
the changing of the seasons. However, I
do think as we live through them, we can better prepare ourselves for them.
Preparing for a winter season in Indiana consists of
purchasing gloves, hats, a scarf and a very warm coat. Close the storm windows and check the filter
on the furnace. Pack away the short
sleeve shirts and pull out the warm sweaters.
Thick socks are a must and some boots aren’t a bad idea! You will most likely need a shovel, some salt
for the walk way and some extra canned goods in the cupboard just in case you
get snowed in! There, you’re ready for
anything the big bad winter can bring.
However, on our journey toward healing and spiritual growth,
preparing for the winter seasons is a bit more complicated. There are no stores that sell peace,
tranquility, wisdom and sanity. (Trust
me, I have checked them all!) So, in case of emergency, where do we find the
above needed items to sustain us through the cold and dark days of a spiritual
winter season? The answers can only be
found as we look to God for direction, comfort and love. Perseverance isn’t something that can be
bought or even taught; it must be cultivated within us.
In the moment of a spiritual winter season, one can desire
for their spiritual tools to work like an umbrella in a rainstorm-quick; fast
and instantaneously. Unfortunately, life doesn’t work that way. The turbulence of a spiritual winter season
blows within us: deep within our spirit.
The cold is unlike anything else and the pain trembles in the deep space
of our aching soul. In our humanity, we want it to go away and the faster the
better. Most often, we search for things
to take the pain away. However poor
choices and desperate attempts for self preservation only prolong a spiritual
winter season.
That’s how many of us began this journey of spiritual
growth. However, choosing a different
path does not prevent the occurrence of a winter season. Actually, because we have chosen this path of
sobriety and self-awareness, we may endure more winter then we have ever experienced
before. Possibly, for the first time in
our lives, we are clean and aware of our circumstances. It’s time for growth and change, which cannot
be accomplished without the death that the winter season brings. Old patterns, choices, fears and though
patterns must die to give birth to new ways.
It’s the simple pattern of change in our universe.
On final thought; does the winter ever cease? De we ever reach a time in our lives where we
no longer endure the chill and sting of the spiritual winter? I will counter this question with another:
Would we really desire such a life? Remember, the reason for a spiritual winter
is to prune us for growth. If we desire
growth, the winter is a necessity. If we
no longer grow we become stagnant and stagnation leads to death. It is God’s desire for His creation to thrive
and flourish along this journey- not just exist.
The Apostle Paul shares some encouragement from his
experience of walking this spiritual journey.
Romans 12: 12 states- Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction and
faithful in prayer. Let us pray not to
be sheltered from the chill and sting of winter but, to be fearless in facing
them!
May God bless your journey!
