What season are you in right now?
Depending on how you define the word “season” will influence your answer.
Is it winter leaning into spring? Is there a change in life/job/role? Is it quiet/growth/turmoil/change? Is it a new decade of life or significant birthday/anniversary?
What a good question though to ponder and explore to help know what is impacting and shaping you currently on your spiritual journey!
In looking at the calendar year I am in the season of spring. Yes I know, I know, the official date of spring is a few weeks from now but if you listen closely to the meteorologists, they will tell you March 1 is the first day of metrological spring. Yah!
Take a moment and consider the next three months – the months of spring. March. April. May. What gifts will these three months bring? What will I learn by paying attention to them? Where is God inviting me closer now and into the near future?
The season – I decided to name it and proclaim it.
Name the Season
I began to name my season by studying my calendar and desired goals.
I looked at upcoming activities, deadlines, realities, hopes and dreams. In my prayers and journaling I sat with God asking for guidance and insight to this season. I realized each month offered distinct qualities and each one varied slightly with time obligations and relationship opportunities. A theme for each month appeared.
- March – Reconnect
- April – Finish
- May –Enjoy
I won’t bore you with all the details, but March will be a time to reunite with lifelong friends in Texas, scheduling get-togethers with geographically closer friends and attending a 4-day silent retreat to spend time with God and listen to my own soul. Weekly Lenten services. Intentional readings. Following up on items left undone last few months. I guess March’s word is reconnect.
April – Work will be focused heavily on finishing final edits of my work in progress book due to the publisher in May. I spent last month revising it before sending it to a developmental editor for her input which I should get back by end of March. Then the final rewrite efforts begin before submission. A huge project to complete at least this portion of this writing journey. April’s word is finish.
May is a time to enjoy. As part of my hubby’s and mine year long celebration of 50 years of marriage we plan to travel – something we both enjoy. I hope to savor and relish the two trips scheduled for May (more on those later).
Proclaim the Season
I hereby proclaim the themes for this upcoming season as reconnect, finish and enjoy!
What an insightful practice this was to pause and ask where I am now and what is happening that is shaping my life journey? Giving each month a name may seem silly but actually helped me focus and become life-giving. A simple discipline providing a way to live a reflective life.
How are you naming your seasons? What helps you live a reflective life?
If you’d posted yesterday, I’d say Spring 2022 will be characterized by house guests, as we had company coming in March, then April, and finally in May. Sadly, health concerns have put our May guests on hold, but we’re prayerful God will intervene and make their visit possible nonetheless. Meanwhile I’m mentoring a group of three women at our church. March could be titled Beginnings, April, Growing Together, and May, Possibilities. I’m seeing how naming seasons offers the opportunity to be intentional about purposes and objectives! Thank you, Jean!
I love your themes, Nancy! May they hold many blessings for you!
Interesting take on the seasons…something to chew on there..
Seasons to.me reflect our lives…spring..birth..newness..summer..fullness ..activities ..fall…feeling spent..tired..yet very beautiful…winter ..dying..but with the seed of new life stiring within…
I love how you see new life stirring even in winter, Great point!
This is so clarifying and helpful, Jean. It seems like the seasons are running into one another for me, literally and figuratively. I’m appreciating your prompt to pay attention and to continue to name what’s happening.
I don’t want the good stuff to pass me by.
wow, don’t let the good stuff pass by – good advice for all of us!
I love how you’ve given each month of spring a theme, Jean! Your words could easily describe these months for me, too. And I do like to think of spring beginning on March 1 as that is my birthday. This year, of course, March 1 marked Mardi Gras – I can’t remember that ever happening before, although it probably has.
I’m so enjoying my Lenten journey with 40 Voices. Praying for your new book, too!
Blessings!
Happy belated birthday! March babies are the best! The theme idea resonated through my recent retreat too. Reconnecting has been strong in March, and I too love spirng starting March 1, gives me energy to keep going.