Winter is experienced in more ways than the weather: ongoing concern about people in various parts of the world take over thoughts of hope as news of bombings, attacks, power outages, political threat; fear, hatred and chaos flood social media. Personal tragedies, illnesses and grief can contribute to the ‘Winter of the Soul’ experience. When that happens, the words of Albert Camus can be a reminder of the invincible part of our being: invincible love, invincible smile, invincible calm, invincible summer … and a reminder that Winter Solstice is not only the beginning of longer days – but of hope.
“In the midst of hate,
I discovered within me an invincible love.
In the midst of tears,
I discovered within me an invincible smile.
In the midst of chaos,
I discovered an invincible calm.
I realized through it all that,
in the midst of winter,
there was an invincible summer.
For it says that no matter how hard the world pushes against me,
within me there is something stronger
something better,
pushing right back.”
Today, December 21st, the shortest day and longest night of the year, marks a shift: darkness slowly begins to recede – light begins to expand. Days begin to get longer, albeit slowly, but they begin this day.
May those who experience a bleak ‘Winter of the Soul’, discover the Winter Solstice’s light of hope and healing of an “invincible summer.” May their spirit resonate with the words of author Margaret Atwood “This is the solstice, the still point of the sun, its cusp and midnight, the year’s threshold and unlocking, where the past lets go and becomes the future; the place of caught breath, the door of a vanished house left ajar” and encourage a break-through of the Winter of the Soul, giving time and space to look-within, nurturing connection to Spirit.
May we all have a joyful Solstice celebrating the return of the light.
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Thank you so much for the lovely poem and thoughts on this beautiful wintery day! So much to be grateful for and so much hope as the daylight hours start “going in the other direction”. Happy “soulstice” to a new and lovely friend!
Lovely thoughts for the shortest day. I was remembering our time in the north when the sun set in mid December and didn’t rise again till mid January. This seems almost light compared to that. And all the Christmas lights help to dispel the darkness. “Joy comes in the morning.”