Winter Solstice

The Winter Solstice occurred at 5:30 AM universal time this morning.  Today is the first day of winter and the day when there will be more darkness than on any other day.  After today, each day will usher in more light until we reach the summer solstice which will be the day on which there will be more light than on any other day of the year.  If you'd like to read more about the solstice, click here and here for more information.

Science aside, where are we?  We are three days away from Christmas.  The pre-Christmas  season has flown.  I realized today, that I hadn't even lit my Advent Wreath as we make ready the way of the Lord.  I didn't realize how much I missed that tradition. Tonight,  I will light the wreath and continue for the rest of Advent so that I can focus on the true reason for the season. 

Most of the shopping is done, except for the grocery shopping.  I have to go grocery shopping today so that I can feed my children when they come home.  I am looking forward to us being together for Christmas!   I really don't like grocery shopping, but the kids need food to eat after they get home. 

I enjoy interacting with my adult children.  They roll their eyes when I get silly, but it's fun--for me!  When we visit with other people, they tell them not to encourage me!  It's just so much fun to be silly!  We eat.  We open presents.  We play.  We go to church.  This year, the service we attend will be Midnight Mass.  In my eyes, there is nothing more beautiful than that.  In Minnesota, the air is cold.  If there's snow on the ground, the ground sparkles in the moonlight.  The candles in church are bright and lit against the darkness.  Then, the lights are turned on and Mass begins.  It is beautiful.

Back home, we snack again, talk, watch TV, share our thoughts, laugh at the memories.

So, now, in the darkness of this very long night, I am looking forward to the upcoming days.  I am dreaming short dreams like the short day we had today.   That's fine.  Not all dreams need to be big dreams or dreams that happen over a long period of time.  Some dreams are meant to be small.  Yet, in their tiny stature, they are big dreams.  Not everyone has a family with whom they can celebrate the season or the change of seasons.  I am blessed that I do!  Not everyone has a family that does not fight and that makes the time together a time to be dreaded rather a time to which we can look forward.  I am blessed.  We all do look forward to being together and catching up. 

In the darkness, I see light.  It's a tiny speck of light, but it will glow brighter and brighter with each day.  It's like the change of seasons.  Even though it's winter now, the light grows brighter and stronger until it's summer.  Then the seasonal shift begins again!  I actually look forward to the beginning of winter.  It's good.  The night is long and the day is short today.  I'm okay.