January is the quietest month in the garden…
But just because it looks quiet doesn’t mean that nothing is happening.
~ Rosalie Muller Wright
January 2022
Here we are in a brand new year and I’m still thinking about “quiet”. I guess I’m staying in the quiet lane because I feel the cold of winter in the air and the desire for some degree of hibernation in my bones! The beauty of the holiday season is over and the quiet beauty of winter is upon us: a bright red cardinal on a snowy bare branch, crackling logs with mesmerizing flames in the fireplace, hearty stew simmering on the stovetop, and peaceful ice-covered ponds suspended in time. We are entering the time of beginnings, slowing down, and settling in for a while. While we continue to celebrate milestones with each other and come together as long as it is safe to do so, I hope we can all embrace the quiet of January with a calmness that is much needed in this time of uncertainty and Covid concern.
As writer Rosalie Muller Wright says, “…just because it looks quiet doesn’t mean that nothing is happening”. There is life under that blanket of snow. And quiet solitude does not mean loneliness. It’s a time for reflection, perhaps about what is best to leave behind as a new year begins. It’s a time too for preparation; planting new ideas and planning for growth and joy in our lives. It’s a time to reach out when the quiet is deafening; connecting and checking on one another. What a beautiful time of year and what incredible opportunities we have in front of us. Further in this newsletter you will find a challenge from me. It is a challenge for the new year
that I hope you will accept. It is a challenge that will require some solitude, reflection, and a little courage.
Beyond the quiet months there will be major celebrations and gatherings like the anniversary of our congregation’s founding. Our beloved community is now in its 200th year! Isn’t that amazing? No matter what comes our way now, we face it together. We face it stronger because we take the time to recognize beauty, to reach out, to reflect, and to prepare.
With gratitude for a new year,
Rev. Kathleen