Finding Spirit during This Transitional Week
Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. - Romans 12:15
For many of us, this is a week of “in-between.” We have celebrated the Christmas holiday and now get ready to close out the year and welcome in the new year.
Liminal spaces are interesting places to be in.
For some of us, we might be coming off the highs of the Christmas season. For some, we might be recovering from the depleting pace of December. For some, we might be in the aftermath of loneliness, sadness, or grief. For some, we are eager to press reset and get to the new year. The holidays bring up many emotions as we have established time and time again. We are through Christmas, but still have another holiday. We are still in the in-between.
So, what do we do with this moment of “in-between”? What might it look like to check-in with ourselves well during this last week of the year? `
As I write, I know my soul and body needs a really intentional contemplative walk. I need a moment to check-in with myself and Spirit, reflect on the year, and practically assess my own capacity for family gatherings this week.
I heard a couple other ways people are engaging this week that inspired me:
At Christmas Eve Eve service, one of our congregants shared how excited they were to not have plans. For them and their family they were THRILLED by the intentional slowness for the week ahead. They even shared that if their family felt social then they would give someone a call and say, “Come over in whatever you’re wearing and we aren’t going to clean for you. We will just be together.” I love this intentional and open not-put-togetherness!
One person I was chatting with last week told me how this holiday season is really hard for her, holidays unfortunately typically are. To take care of herself, she is doing one of the things she loves most— she’s going to horse camp! She laughed as she told me, “Yeah it’s probably going to be just kids there, but hey I’ll have fun and I’ll be child-like.” She is taking a week that could have furthered her unwanted isolation and sadness and finding her own joy, autonomy, and rejuvenation! How cool is that? Now, for many of us, something like horse camp is just not possible on several accounts, whether that be financial, time, resources, etc. However, I love the spirit of not being a victim to this week but finding life, wholeness, and goodness despite the circumstances.
What does this week look like for you? How might you need to check-in with your spirit? What does your body and soul need? Maybe it’s an adventure or an activity. Maybe it’s reaching out to others for community and connection. Maybe it’s shutting down all social obligations and hanging in your pjs more than usual. Maybe it's finding more moments of quiet, stillness, and contemplation.
As you discern what you need, check in with God. Ask Spirit to connect you to yourself and the Divine. Ask God to show Themself to you in deeper ways through this week of in-between. Ask for clarity and peace to move through this week that will feed your soul and connect Spirit moving in you.
Dottie Oleson