Snowy Night

Dear UU Shenandoah,

Happy New Year! May your hearts shimmer with New Year’s magic - whether it be from fireworks in the sky, a glittering ball dropped in Times Square, or the simple sparkles of the spirit.

Did you know that even though we’ve passed Winter Solstice, the shortest day, we are still advancing towards winter’s coldest months? This is because Earth's land and oceans retain heat, taking time to fully cool down. Our coldest temperatures will actually occur later in January and February. This is often known as the “Dead of Winter.”

In this spirit, I offer you a winter poem by Mary Oliver.

Snowy Night

Last night, an owl
in the blue dark
tossed an indeterminate number
of carefully shaped sounds into
the world, in which,
a quarter of a mile away, I happened
to be standing.
I couldn’t tell
which one it was –
the barred or the great-horned
ship of the air –
it was that distant. But, anyway,
aren’t there moments
that are better than knowing something,
and sweeter? Snow was falling,
so much like stars
filling the dark trees
that one could easily imagine
its reason for being was nothing more
than prettiness. I suppose
if this were someone else’s story
they would have insisted on knowing
whatever is knowable – would have hurried
over the fields
to name it – the owl, I mean.
But it’s mine, this poem of the night,
and I just stood there, listening and holding out
my hands to the soft glitter
falling through the air. I love this world,
but not for its answers.
And I wish good luck to the owl,
whatever its name –
and I wish great welcome to the snow,
whatever its severe and comfortless
and beautiful meaning.

— Mary Oliver

Friends, may we, too, love this world, but not for its answers. And may we offer great welcome to this new year, no matter what it holds, because it is ours. May we live into this new year well: bound together in love, with spirits fortified for the journey.

Blessed Be,

Rev. Lauren