February

Found this on the web somewhere:

Whatever storms we have weathered,
whatever difficulties we have endured these
past few weeks,
We are at least grateful now for a noticeable
lengthening of days:
For more abundant sunlight glancing off icicles,
resplendent upon snowy fields.
We have reached a turning point in winter, and
though remote, Spring seems possible now.
Nevertheless, February spreads out before us,
a short but often frigid month – winter’s
doldrums, we would say.
Holiday gaiety is already half-forgotten; daf-
fodils, those harbingers of Spring, still are
deeply dormant.
And what consolations has February to offer?
What does it promise besides four weeks of
cold, Lenten discipline and lessons in self-
denial?
It is, thank heaven, a month restricted in most
years to twenty-eight days. Who would
wish it more?
And yet, this can be a precious time; an oppor-
tunity for making and renewing connections,
for forging bonds of community.
A dearth of distractions is the hidden blessing
of February:
No World Series, Kris Kringle or Cows on the
Concourse.
It is free of graduations; weddings and vaca-
tions are also few.
What good, then, is February?
Of all the months of the year, it is the one
during which we can be most present for
one another –
At home, in the workplace and in our spiritual
community. If this unpraised and underap-
preciated month is in may ways a test of
our endurance, may it also be a test of our
affections.
And may we remember that when we hold
onto each other and skate through it
together,
February can be warm, and it can be quite
lovely. (MAS, 2002)