In The Bleak Midwinter

This is the kind of day I suspect Rosetti had in mind when writing that famous carol.  It's gray, wet, cold.  The streets are filled with slush and ice.  Drear comes to mind.  My spirit sags, there is no song in my heart.  Bleak, indeed.

Yet it is into the midst of this gloom that the light of Christ will break forth, warming and illuminating all.  That, at least, is the promise.  For the hope to be fulfilled, the vision become reality, we must prepare through prayer, devotion, reflection.  We must will aside the shadows, make room for the child to be present.  Sometimes, that can seem too hard to do and muddling on with our unsatisfactory circumstances appears to be the lest difficult way forward.  Don't be fooled.  The clouds can part, the sun may shine.  Just give God some time.  Take a moment.  Pray.  And give thanks.

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