Rev. Melinda Giese, Minister of Discipleship & Pastoral Care
This past Monday marked the winter solstice for 2020, our longest night of the year in the northern hemisphere. From this point on, we move slowly, a few minutes at a time, in the direction of more daylight and more sunshine. While sunset on Monday was at 4:22 pm, by the end of January, the sun won’t set until 5:11 pm. If we just hold on, longer days are on their way!
It strikes me that the longest and darkest day of the year is also the point at which we make this shift. The darkness of the winter solstice is simultaneously the point when light is reborn, not all at once, but slowly, minute by minute. At first, the change is so slight we don’t even recognize that the light is increasing. But it is. By the end of January, the difference will be noticeable, and by June, the days will be gloriously long and warm again.
This pandemic season has felt like extended Lent or Advent, with so much uncertainty, so much waiting. But as we watched the first COVID-19 vaccinations take place over the past couple of weeks, I pray that this global pandemic is also at a turning point. Even though our country is seeing record numbers of cases, hospitalizations, and deaths, I hope that in this present crisis, we are already making the shift toward health. Not all at once, but slowly, minute by minute, vaccination by vaccination. In the relief and tears on the faces of health workers, we can see the first signs that help is coming in our fight against this virus. If we just hold on, help is on its way for us too.
In the meantime, for many of us, the challenge of waiting is boredom. The same restrictions that help protect us and others from the virus mean that we’re missing social gatherings and favorite activities to look forward to. As we heard the scripture this week of Mary’s visit to Elizabeth, many of us probably missed the joy of visiting relatives and seeing loved ones face to face. When gatherings with our friends and relatives are out, what on earth do we do with all this extra time at the holidays?
If you have hit your pandemic limit with puzzles, baking, and daily walks, we invite you to check out this creative list of 50 activities to do when you are bored. At this point, we need all the inspiration we can find, and we guarantee that you will find something on this list to spark your interest during these long days of winter.
John 1:5 promises us that the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. The days are already lengthening, the pandemic vaccine will continue to be distributed, and the light of Christ will be born into our world once more. Even as we continue to hold on through the darkness of winter, take heart, for the light and the love of Christ is coming!