“In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer.”—Albert Camus
I greet every young person as they enter the dining room for each meal at Kanuga Conference Center. One of my favorite questions—one I ask both in June and December—is, “Do you prefer winter or summer?”
For the longest time I’ve been surprised on chilly late-December mornings by how many of the youth say, “Winter!” Then I finally realized that most who responded that way were from Florida, and winter for them meant temperatures in the 60s and 70s.
For many of us who have spent a significant amount of time in colder climates, winter often carries a very different meaning. Sure, there is nothing like a first beautiful snowfall—especially when it is followed by sunshine that makes the earth glisten. And yes, skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, and all kinds of winter outdoor recreation can be wonderful. Yet there is also the cold, hard fact that winter, with its endless dark, damp, and dreary days, can feel deeply depressing.
Recently, when I asked a good friend how he was doing, his response was simply, “Winter.” The tone of his voice made it clear that he was in a very challenging place—and he was not merely referring to the weather.
Endless wars, upheaval in many of our cities, increasing economic difficulties and uncertainty, and—on top of it all—severe and unpredictable weather in so many places… it’s hard not to feel like we are living in the midst of an endless winter.
“You know what you need? More light in your life—and I can help you with that!” These wise words came from a World War II veteran who had seen no shortage of very dark times. His story of the horrific battles he endured did not end there. Upon returning from the war, he found work selling light bulbs, which he later parlayed into starting his own light bulb manufacturing company. His crowning achievement, however, was designing a light bulb specifically for those who suffer from seasonal affective disorder.
In the seasons of winter in my own life, I try to remind myself of what this wise veteran shared. As the opening of John’s Gospel so clearly proclaims, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.”
“Look for the light”—that is my mantra in the prevailing darkness of winter seasons. Who are those people, those places, those experiences that shine on me like a beautiful spring day? That is where I find not only light, but also the enduring hope of new life in spring that is coming.
“Every time we choose love over fear, we move from winter into spring.” – Henri Nouwen
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