Mandy's Musings

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So, the Turkey has all been eaten, mince pies consumed, presents opened and used, decorations down and stored away for another year and I guess we could be forgiven for thinking 'What now?' After all the hype and excitement, and the surreal week between Christmas and New Year, what happens now that we are 'back to normal'? There is a real shift in gear during this first week in January as many of us muse on the year that has gone past and the year that is to come. Resolutions and new starts are made.... and usually broken before the end of January😊 However, there is much research to tell us that January is not actually a good time of the year to make new year's resolutions. In much of our human and animal world, January is still a period of rest and hibernation and making new resolutions at this time can put additional pressure on us when, naturally, we still feel the need to take rest during these winter months. It's not the same the world over, of course. If we lived in the southern hemisphere, we may well feel differently about the start of a new year in glorious sunshine and long summer days. Over here, though, whilst January can be a time when things get going again and the pace begins to increase, don't be surprised if you find that hard. In April, things begin to wake up, are renewed and new life begins. This is how nature behaves and in the Christian Calendar, we celebrate Easter as a time of renewal and new life. Perhaps April is a better fit for making new year's resolutions? After all, we will have longer days to muse on what is important, warmer weather so less need to hibernate away and a whole variety of nature around us that reminds us of new beginnings. This Sunday, we are reflecting on the Baptism of Christ - the moment when Christ was baptised in the River Jordan and his Father spoke the words to him from heaven 'This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.' This marked the beginning of Jesus' ministry and new adult life but he had a period of waiting after this before he launched into his ministry. We may make promises and resolutions now in January but let's also continue to have the rest and hibernation that we need in order to make good our promises for this year.

Every blessing,

Mandy