I have learned the secret of being content
in any and every situation
Philippians 4:11

Do you ever get the mid-winter blues? There's that fleeting crack of time between the end of January and the beginning of February where Satan plays his game and makes you imagine that you are only standing at the apex of some mountain of insignificance: A winter of discontent. The holidays are long gone. Now 'tis the season where colds and the flu are being passed around like snacks at an office party. It's that time of year where the American nation is cajoled into anticipating its supreme spiritual experience...the Super Bowl. It can get you down. You wistfully long for the days when you can whistle down a golf course fairway or throw a Frisbee across a sandy beach or just putter in the garden, but all you see is cold and gray skies and cold and gray landscapes and cold and gray people. The Father of Lies can manipulate a little seasonal despondency a long way to his great advantage.

So how do you dig out of this snowy rut and tell the devil to go hit the wintry highway? You can play a game. Remember the cabin-fever days of youthful winters when your mother used to tell you and your siblings to get out of her hair and go play a game? And sometimes you would go put on your father's clothes and your golden retriever would put on your mother's clothes and everybody would pretend to be all "growed-up"? Well you can still do that. You can dress up like a mighty warrior. Our father in heaven generously provides us with many items that we can wear to ward off the chilly doldrums: the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit. As we put on the full armor of God, we can gloriously slay the "roaring lion that prowls about seeking those he shall devour". And in our newfound excitement as victorious champions, as we stand glowing in triumph overtop our new lion-skin rug before a roaring fireplace at the end of the day, we realize that we have learned the secret of being content in any situation...even in the most dreary of cold, gray winters. So the next time you have the mid-winter blues, may I respectfully suggest that you adopt the mid-winter purples, royally flush with the sovereign power of our King of Kings who nourishes our contentment by reminding us that "I can do everything through him who gives me strength."

Dear Heavenly Father: When we sometimes feel blue, compel us to call upon the Holy Spirit that dwells within us. Have him set our focus on "Whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - have us think about such things." And your peace will be with us. Contentedly, we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen.

Contributed by Donald
Sunday February 4, 2007
Liturgical Year C Week 10