January can be a difficult time of the year. Days are still short and the excitement of Christmas seems like a distant memory. And it’s cold! It’s no wonder we see an increase in people looking for help this time of year.
This is also a time when we’re reminded of some of the blessings we have because of our faith. Rev Ed asked you to do some homework when he was at MUC in December. He asked you to draw a timeline and mark all the high and low points in your lives. Then he suggested you look at all the times you came out of those low points and think about who helped you as you recovered. Most likely, you’ll see that we almost never come out of dark times by ourselves.
Friends, family, and even strangers help us out of difficult times. God, and remembering we’re always loved, help us out of the low points in our lives. When I went through Rev Ed’s exercise, I could see God always helped me with strength, peace, and hope before things got better. I could also see that I’d forgotten God’s love when my life seemed darkest.
In the dark days of winter, please stay close to your friends and family and let God’s light lead you into spring.
Rev. Paul Whynacht