Happy New Year! Happy 2017! Happy Groundhog Day! How's your year going so far? Good I hope! Mine has been a bit challenging. New Years Eve found Super Rock Star and I enjoying ringing in the New Year at one of our local Bar and Grills as his band rocked us into 2017. Unfortunately, we both woke up with wicked colds the next day and sickness lingered in our home all month long. Ugh!
This time of year is especially tough in our household. Not only have the decorations of Christmas been long put away with all the twinkling lights and joyous music and all the hope and promise that the season brings, but, it's also the end of our second favorite time of year--football season.
The hopes and dreams of a promising year dashed within a 3 hour period on a Sunday. The Cowboys disappointed us--yet again (or the refs--but lets not open that wound). But, even with our favorite team (America's team) not making it to the big dance--well it's always a bit of a let down when it all comes to an. Every Sunday, Monday night, Thursday night and the occasional Saturday night have been consumed with watching and enjoying. And for those of us that love football--well it is a LONG 7 months til the next one begins. I love that commercial that talks about "show hole"--you know when you've been binge watching a series and it comes to an end. We get "show hole" in a MAJOR way each and every February.
Plus, it's winter.
I guess that's why someone had to come up with Groundhog day. This year Punxsutawney Phil has promised that spring is coming.
As I was trying to explain Groundhog day to my boys on their way to school this morning--I could tell that it meant nothing to them.
What does an oversized rodent have to do with anything remotely interesting. And, for kids, winter means endless fun in the snow--snow ball fights, sledding,and building forts. Plus, there's the hope of cancelled school for snow days and your parents letting you watch endless movies and play video games since it's too cold to play outside. But, for adults, it's not as fun. We all love winter as we anticipate how great our homes will look all lit up for Christmas against a back drop of snow. But, as soon as we take down the lights and decorations, snow and cold weather just becomes a drag.
Groundhog Day is set at just the right time. Many of us just have plain ole forgotten what it's like to have color and green living things around us and some of us have even settled into a bit of a melancholy of heavy sighs and weariness. It's never a good idea to get too alone with ourselves with nothing to do and nothing to look forward to. So many of us started off our new year with hopes and dreams of doing things better, making positive changes and becoming better people. If you made it to January 2nd without losing your mind and actually keeping some of your resolutions--congratulations! You got me beat.
But, somehow that little fur ball playing his part as men tap on his door and we all listen with anticipation to what Phil has to "say" about our weather--gives us all a much needed distraction. It allows our minds to redirect to what is coming rather than dwelling on what is.
As we get further into this new year and especially with the fresh start of a new month--I pray that we will all keep our eyes looking forward. And rather than looking around at where we are thinking that life's a drag with nothing to look forward to--may we remember spring is coming and with spring comes hope and with hope comes new life and with new life comes joy.
Isaiah 43:19 Behold I will do something new, now it will spring forth; will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.
