It hasn't been a month since the "Christmas Blizzard of '09" closed down churches, stranded travelers, and created general havoc with everyone's holiday plans. Yet, in many ways, it seems like months since temperatures have been above freezing and the ground was fully visible! Even those who love the snow are beginning to express dismay over the severity and duration of this latest arctic blast.
But it is not only the bone chilling cold that has many people on edge. Even during the mildest of winters, many people have difficulty coping with the long nights and overcast days. As a matter of fact, in a climate such as ours, January tends to be one of the highest months for reported cases of depression, domestic disturbances, and other related behaviors. It is as if our brains demand a certain level of light in order to function appropriately and when deprived of that optimum amount over an extended time, our ability to reason and function will eventually be compromised.
And what is true for our minds is also true for our souls. Unless we open ourselves to the light of Christ and the warmth of God's love, we tend to sink into a deep spiritual malaise. We convince ourselves that the evil in this world is winning and our only hope is to hold out for eternity. As a result, we tend to walk right by all the beauty and blessings God is offering us. We look at almost everything and see the problem instead of allowing Christ to show us the promise and possibilities.
When I was a young child, the music teacher at school decided to teach us a song that had been popular in the early '50's. As riots and social unrest began to hold many people hostage in a world of fear and hatred, she would have us sing before large audiences of parents, teachers, and administrators:
So let the sun shine in
Face it with a grin.
Smilers never lose
and frowners never win.
So let the sun shine in
face it with a grin
So open up your heart
and let the sun shine in.
Do I hear an "Amen"?
