Four Somethings – 2026 Midwinter

I love to share Four Somethings – things I have read, seen, experienced that made me stop and savor life. One practice I frequently encourage is reflection – pausing and pondering where you are, where you have come from, and where is God inviting you into next.  I share bits of wisdom in four categories.

• Something Wise
• Something Wonderful
• Something Whispered
• Something Whimsical

Gathering Four Somethings make me aware of all the blessings often hidden under busyness, worries, and distractions. These “somethings” become markers in our spiritual journey. With so much pivoting and uncertainty in our lives right now, being grounded in a simple practice like this guides my way. 

Something Wise

“One cannot cover the face of God.”  African proverb

I am reminded to take deep breaths and be present in the moment. God is here and yet larger than I can comprehend or imagine. And I am held in the hands of God and called beloved. You are too!

Something Wonderful

Do you burp your house? I think this is such a fun, silly term. Popular in Germany, this breezy little habit is called lüften. The idea is simple: Throw open the windows for a bit each day and “burp” your home, sweeping out stale air and inviting fresh air inside. And experts report that this is good for us!

Something Whispered

This poem resonated with my soul perhaps because I am learning to hold the uncertainties in life and letting go of having to know everything in order to find myself.  And becoming dust fits so well this Ash Wednesday season.

Faith 
Even now, I am becoming
wind, something less flesh, more
movement, more current, less
here, more everywhere. Though
the moment I think I know this truth,
the knowing re-solids me,
makes me into clay that pretends it is wind.
But becoming clay again, I am destined
to crumble, disintegrate, until
I am dust and once again one
with the wind. How to trust anything
then, except this infinite becoming and
rebecoming—and whatever
it is that is alive inside it all.
That. I put my faith in that.
—Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer

Something Whimsical

Silly words.  But you have to promise me to say these aloud too. Just as much fun to try to pronounce them and hear them tumble out of your mouth. 

Lollygag – To fool around, dawdle, or procrastinate

Diphthong – A linguistic phenomenon when two vowels work together in a word to produce a sound that neither of them makes on their own. Examples of diphthongs in action are in the shifting vowel sounds of “sound,” “noise,” and “annoy.

Borborygmus – The sound of a stomach rumbling

Hobbledehoy – A clumsy or awkward young person

And I saved the best for last:

Jollification – merrymaking or jolly festivity

Aren’t those fun to say?

What have you been learning so far in 2026?