Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Winter before Summer

"And let us not be weary in doing well; for in due season, we shall reap, if we faint not." (Galatians 6:9).

"For the husbandman waits patiently, after the seed is sown; there is winter before summer comes ... So live in patience and peace."

From "Mind the Heavenly Treasure," writings of George Fox

Fox is advising us to follow the slower but more fruitful rhythms of nature in what we do, not to expect instant results and to have a view of productivity as a long term endeavor. This is contrary to the world's frantic pace and demands, but we have a choice or so it seems.

I had a lovely week at home in Maryland as well as visiting in-law family in Pennsylvania. Now I'm back to Ohio. Some of my companions, especially e-mail companions, are in a winter funk because it's cold and dark, and I am too. So I am thinking about how people --or so we are led to believe--knew how to enjoy the season in days gone by, with festivity and hope and prayer and all those good things. Peggy is talking about Advent on her site, the Abbess (see it on the right) and Bill is reflecting in his Reflections (also to the right) on what he is grateful for. What do you do for this season?

2 comments:

AbiSomeone said...

Diane,

This is a very timely post for another conversation I'm involved in. Thanks!

While the season has gone dark, there is great Light as well ... and I just learned that the leader of our small missional learning group has been diagnosed with colon cancer. That will always provide perspective, will it not?

What a tremendous thing that we should ponder The Light at the point in the year when things are most dark....

Be blessed ... and thanks for mentioning your wee abbess and her blog. ;^)

Diane said...

Hi Peggy,

I will pray for the person diagnosed with colon cancer.