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For as long as I can remember there was psychological letdown after the Christmas/New Year holidays. It was the kind of letdown we experience after any high-emotion event which involves an extended period of anticipation— a time of waiting culminated with a rather abrupt ending. Now, I am not a person who lives from one emotional high to another, but the Advent season, which, by the Christian definition means “a time of waiting,” brings a season of high expectation.
When it is over, there are no pageants with play parts to learn, no new carols to sing and no family gatherings to look forward to and make preparations for.
The pageants have all been presented and the wonderful music is but a memory. Life has slipped back into the pre-Christmas humdrum. We had just recently emerged from the beautiful autumn colors. The trees and bushes had treated us again to radiant displays of orange and gold, but alas! They gave way to the colorless skeletons of the trees. So now we must put color into our daily existence by other means.
One way to do this is with the wonderful, age-old gift of seed catalogues, that make their ways into our homes during the last week of December. If you are a gardener or an avid out-of-doors buff, you can reconnect with the Great Creator of all growing things by making plans and designs for new flower areas with new colors and vegetation.
Maybe, if you are not heaving into gardening but are much more serious-minded and challenged by theologic matters, you might enjoy finding a church class that helps people understand the more difficult precepts of their faith. We have just completed six weeks of preparation and experienced the biblical concept of “waiting” during Advent. Now we are ready to delve into the heavier concepts of “who” God really is.
If theology is too heavy, how about giving other great literature a try? January allows ample time, during its prolonged indoor dwelling, to get involved in literary projects such as poetry and short stories of various genres.
For the artisan who has not had time to create a masterpiece in watercolor, oils or photography — activities which demand a high level of concentration to create new, natural and beautiful works — January may be the time.
For the person who delights in woodworking, shop projects and January lend themselves to prolonged periods of activity for woodcarving, lathework and work on large wood projects.
For as long as I can remember there was psychological letdown after the Christmas/New Year holidays. It was the kind of letdown we experience after any high-emotion event which involves an extended period of anticipation— a time of waiting culminated with a rather abrupt ending. Now, I am not a person who lives from one emotional high to another, but the Advent season, which, by the Christian definition means “a time of waiting,” brings a season of high expectation.
When it is over, there are no pageants with play parts to learn, no new carols to sing and no family gatherings to look forward to and make preparations for.
The pageants have all been presented and the wonderful music is but a memory. Life has slipped back into the pre-Christmas humdrum. We had just recently emerged from the beautiful autumn colors. The trees and bushes had treated us again to radiant displays of orange and gold, but alas! They gave way to the colorless skeletons of the trees. So now we must put color into our daily existence by other means.
One way to do this is with the wonderful, age-old gift of seed catalogues, that make their ways into our homes during the last week of December. If you are a gardener or an avid out-of-doors buff, you can reconnect with the Great Creator of all growing things by making plans and designs for new flower areas with new colors and vegetation.
Maybe, if you are not heaving into gardening but are much more serious-minded and challenged by theologic matters, you might enjoy finding a church class that helps people understand the more difficult precepts of their faith. We have just completed six weeks of preparation and experienced the biblical concept of “waiting” during Advent. Now we are ready to delve into the heavier concepts of “who” God really is.
If theology is too heavy, how about giving other great literature a try? January allows ample time, during its prolonged indoor dwelling, to get involved in literary projects such as poetry and short stories of various genres.
For the artisan who has not had time to create a masterpiece in watercolor, oils or photography — activities which demand a high level of concentration to create new, natural and beautiful works — January may be the time.
For the person who delights in woodworking, shop projects and January lend themselves to prolonged periods of activity for woodcarving, lathework and work on large wood projects.
Some of the greatest writers and thinkers were most productive during the winter months. Getting involved in various writing groups, book clubs and discussions can not only be a good use of time but can be intellectually stimulating.
I have attempted to suggest various intellectual and physical pursuits which may not be possible during other seasons of the year due to time constraints and other reasons. But January seems to be sort of a downtime and may offer time for these activities. If these don’t catch your fancy, you can always become a couch potato and watch the “tube.”
If we get excited about some of these activities, who knows? They may be the beginning of new relationships which may be pursued during the other seasons of the year. If the newly discovered winter activities become more time-consuming and enjoyable, it may be that it will be February before we know it, and we will find ourselves trying to outguess the groundhog as to how long Spring will be in coming, or we may find ourselves looking for that perfect valentine for the ones we love.
Good luck!
