The Winter Season

SAT., JAN. 11, 1992, 6:50 AM
FARM, STUDY

The seasons of the year are, theoretically, four in number. For more than half of your life these changes were more a matter of the calendar than of temperature and weather. But you feel fortunate that these middle and later middle age years have been lived in a place where the seasons, generally, are about equal in length and quite distinguishable from one another. This is the winter season, which is your least favorite. Thus, hear My comments on it as you watch for the sun’s appearance into a clear, cloudless sky.

As I have told you before, for nature the winter season is one of rest rather than growth. Since you, finally, are part of nature, as a physical being, you must honor this purpose. For you, as a professional, it is a time of work, but this “winter break” is at least a symbol of “nature’s way.” In the “animal world,” of which you are a part, life obviously goes on, for you can note that four of your sons were born in the winter (which means that they were conceived in the spring). You try not to have baby rabbits born in the winter, for their chances of survival are slight. Beer does not brew well in the winter, unless electricity helps to make the crock of a more summer temperature.

The trees are resting. No flowers bloom. Only the pine and cedar trees show green. Because outside temperatures are now much below what the human body must be, a major task of winter is staying warm. Clothing must be different. Heat must be provided, so, in your situation you cut and split wood and carry it to your sometimes various fires. This is winter exercise, which, itself, is a means of generating heat.

But what of the winter season, spiritually. Well, it commences, almost, with Christmas. While this is now, in your culture, quite a commercial time you continue to experience it as a remembrance of My birth, as Jesus, into the earth. Thus, as you celebrate it, God came into the earth early in the winter. My birth took place in the winter, so says the tradition, and even in a warmer climate this made the birth in a stable more of a trial. My crucifixion took place in the Spring, but it was quickly followed by resurrection… new life.

In the life of the church there is a surge at Christmas and then a bit of a lapse, though programming remains fairly constant. It generally is a time of continuity, with regular worship, except for times of really bad weather. In a symbolic sense the Christ life is being led from birth in winter to death in the Spring… most of life being in winter. Strange, isn’t it!? Summer, the growing season for nature, tends to be a season of less continuity. Sunday worshippers are fewer, and education is not emphasized… except for the special “events,” such as Market place, at your church, and Synod School, which has been an important part of your spiritual life in these past few years.

The winter season should be one of more contemplation of spiritual matters, for you. There is less to do outside and therefore more time that can and should be used for Bible study, rereading of these Teachings, and contemplation of life, as you have lived, as you now live, and as you should live, in the future. This opportunity makes it a great potential season. To some extent you do this, and I encourage more of it.

The season should also be one of writing, particularly letters. Your resolve to get the Christmas letter out before the return of classes may not be realized, unless you get to it, even today. This letter will provide the opportunity to append personal notes to a number of people, in response to what they have written to you before Christmas. Well, I won’t push, for I know you’ll do it, but doing it now could save you some pressure later, after the term is in session.