New Year, New Hope and Snowflakes of Grace

January 2020 Blog by Katie Talarico ~ I love each new year because it brings a fresh start and new hope.

We have just been filled with the Light of Christ coming into the world. We have been contemplating “God with Us” with wonder and awe: reflecting on His goodness and humanity, rejoicing that He came to teach us love. We have been pondering Him with Mary, searching for Him with the shepherds, adoring Him with the three kings, singing Glorias to Him with the angels.

Christ’s presence has come to us in our lives during this past month, and has filled us with joy and hope for what awaits in the new year.

Now we emerge into the silent winter.

The silent winter is a time when stillness and peace is in the air, and each snowflake reminds me of subtle graces in my midst as I hope for the lushness, warmth, and fruitfulness of springtime.

Those subtle graces are warmth of community, a cup of tea to calm my nerves, a word or phrase in prayer that speaks to my heart, an inspiration that enlivens my spirit, a book that expands my consciousness, and wisdom that guides me to my next step.

The silent winter is a place I find these types of graces at a place like Centering Space, which creates a place for those graces to be given and received with warm people, surroundings, inspiration and prayer that helps us sense the Holy Spirit in our midst.

Maybe those snowflakes of grace given by the Spirit in this silent winter will give way to what God hopes to bloom in me this coming year.

May this be a new year of new hope, and may your silent winter be filled with many snowflakes of grace.

Questions to Ponder

1. How can you embrace the silent winter and sense the Spirit in your midst?
2. What are the snowflakes of grace in your midst?
3. What hope of blooming and fruitfulness do you have for your life in the coming year?