Mid Winter Musings

A guest this week reminded me with an anticipatory tone in her voice that there are less than six more weeks before winter is over. I didn’t know whether to be joyful at that realization or saddened about how we wish the time of our lives away sometimes. On the flip side we had a group of cross country skiers and snow shoe enthusiasts here this past weekend, and they were bemoaning the fact that so little remains of this winter season. Their enthusiasm was energizing and I vowed to enjoy the remainder of what this season holds for us.

It is Valentine’s weekend and we are readying ourselves to receive guests who want to celebrate this “feast of love” in a special way. I went to one of my favorite poets, John O’Donohue, to see what light he could bring to my thoughts on “matters of the heart” in preparation for this holiday. I will share a few pearls from his writings.

“The heart is where the beauty of the human spirit comes alive… Because the heart dwells in unattended dark we often forget its sublime sensitivity to everything that happens to us. Without our ever noticing, the heart absorbs the joy of things and also their pain and care. For this reason it is wise now and again to tune in to your heart and listen for what it carries.”

So especially in this month of February, take time to listen to your heart. If you need a place of winter quiet stillness in which to do that, we are here. If not, just remember to as e.e.cummings said, “be of love a little more careful than of everything.”

Take care,
Marcia