Good evening brethren and Happy Sabbath!  Just a quick note that there will be no Sabbath School tomorrow, however it will resume in February.

Dead of winter

While I think the middle of winter is still a few weeks away, the weather this past week has certainly left no doubt to anyone what season we’re in.  While not bitterly cold here, it’s still been colder than normal, and we did receive a bit of snow.

This got me to thinking about the phrase ‘dead of winter.’  According to the Cambridge Dictionary, it simply means ‘the middle of winter, when it is very cold.’

Alternate definition

That definition is probably the one we’re most familiar with, but I found an interesting take on the phrase from Ted Nugent.  If you don’t know who he is, think equal parts rock star/philosopher/bow hunter. 

While I wouldn’t necessarily point to him for theological guidance, he makes the point that most of nature is dead (or at least dormant) in winter, but that’s what it is meant to be.  It’s a part of the created cycle of life.  In order for new leaves to spring forth in the spring, old leaves have to die off. Of course, being the bow hunting enthusiast he is, he also points out the need for a harvest of both plants and animals in the fall, as the environment can’t support all the life that was brought forth in summer.  

What can you harvest?

Spiritually speaking, we came to the end of the holy day season a couple of months ago. What spiritual gems did you take in over the last year to help you through the winter?  Were there any messages from the Feast that stuck with you? Are there any ‘dead’ thoughts or practices to cull from your life now?

As we hunker down with a warm beverage and cozy fireplace on these long winter nights, now would be a great time to enjoy the spiritual harvest from the last year!