Gleanings from January—Moon Shadows on Snow

I’m being followed by a moon shadow, moon shadow, moon shadow.  –Cat Stevens

January rings in another year with Auld Lang Syne—‘for old times’ sake’—by looking back at what happened during the previous year.  And then we begin again.  Each month and each day gives us that same opportunity.  At the end of each day, we can look back at what happened, check in with ourselves, set our intentions for the next day, and with the dawn, begin again.

We had days of beautiful snow last month—perfect January weather.  In the midst of a snowstorm, the bright cardinal gave us a glimpse of the joyous, colorful Spring to come.

There is Beauty in Wintertide when ordinary objects become works of art.

We also had days of unusual melting in January as the temperatures soared and bleakness enveloped the land.

One of the lovely sights of winter nights is moon shadows on snow—a wordless poem that stirs the soul with its artistry and mystery.

Another mystery unfurled in the daytime snow—this ‘snow roll’ and track appeared one afternoon, starting at the down spout and rolling 10-12 feet across relatively flat ground.  Now how did that happen?!

This snow-covered nest caught my eye, and I thought of how their carefully crafted and hidden home during the leaf-covered spring and summer was now exposed to the elements and for all to see.

Another month, another day is relegated to ‘old times.’

Old years, months, and days become our history—a story that covers the gamut from bleakness to beauty, from ordinary to art, from predictable to mystery.  With our history comes our lessons, but only if we reflect on what happened, what our role was, and how we may have gotten some parts of it wrong.  There are times in which we hide ourselves for protection and for good reason, but eventually, as we begin again, we are once more exposed to the elements.  And here’s the mystery—we become stronger and more resilient for having done that shadow work in the darkness.  Our lives become a wordless poem of artistry and mystery.  We’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet for old times’ sake, revel in the Goodness of the present moment, and catch a glimpse of the Joy yet to come.