In The Bleak Mid-winter~

Those words have such a haunting sound. They are words not well understood in the past.

Then came this present winter weather.

A week ago the garden stood green. This week all is bleak, truly, scorched and very sad indeed.

Evergreens, so called, either curl their leaves or drop their branches. All looks grey or brown and quite lifeless.

All this comes along with the winter dark. The dawn does not "come up like thunder" as in summer. Rather it seems to creep in, unsure of itself. And evening dark comes so soon, not in the evening, really but in the afternoon.

It is a good thing then, I think, that this should be the time of year for us to focus on the coming of Light, the Light of Life. The contrast of that fact shines through these dark and bleak days of the year. It encourages, too, remembering that there are seasons and this present bleakness will not remain.

"There, in the manger on the wall

Slept the Summer of us all,

And in a Maid's caress.

O Summer in a Winter sun!

O Son, made flesh for everyone

To worship and confess."