Even though we haven’t had snow – don’t worry, it will come – the backyard critters that we think of in the spring inhabit our yards in the winter as well. Winter birds and those little house wrens that never seem to leave usually find shelter in evergreen trees. They need water in the winter just as much as in the summer. A shallow pan with fresh water every morning is important to them since small streams are frozen.
At this time in January, you can see the birds fluttering about at feeders. Sometimes it seems they even take turns, perhaps a lesson for all of us. This January, for the most part, has been a quiet month weather-wise for us in New Jersey. We missed the snow of areas further north.
January is a good time to think. Many of us spend our time indoors at this time of year. As we move into the coming months, we should consider how to break some of those old patterns we didn’t like. Although we’re almost a full month into the year, it’s never too late to recalibrate our thinking and our doing.
Prayer for the Day
In the quiet of the early morning, we come to you, Eternal God,
Searching for your Presence to guide us throughout the day;
But words and sounds we do not want to hear bombard us,
Overwhelming us as we struggle to find peace in our souls.
Envelop us and sustain us so we find sustenance in you
Enabling us to share your grace and care to those around us.
In the name of the One who preached and lived your Gospel,
Even Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.
Thoughts for the Day
I love the dark hours of my being. My mind deepens into them. There I can find, as in old letters, the days of my life, already lived, and held like a legend, and understood.”
- Rainer Maria Rilke, from Rilke's Book of Hours: Love Poems to God (1875-1926)
Our power lies in our small daily choices, one after another, to create eternal ripples of a life well lived.
- Mollie Marti, American psychologist, lawyer, researcher
And if one loves righteousness, the labors of Wisdom are virtues;
For she teaches self-control and prudence, justice, and courage;
Nothing in life is more profitable for mortals than these.
Wisdom of Solomon 8: 7