So, here we are. It is the middle of January. For many of us, the excitement and joy of the Christmas holiday may have faded. The peace that came with our acknowledgement of the reason for the season—the gift of Jesus —may not sit so securely within your heart right now. So, what happened between December and January?
The Christmas tree, the wreaths from the windows, the tinsel and pretty paper have been carted to the burn pile or packed away in the attic. The outward signs of the joyous season are gone. The meats and sweets, the time of gathering with friends and family has been supplanted by resolution-planning, gym-joining, and lists of what not to do in this new year. We return to work and school and think about the next holiday that will allow us to take time out of work and school.
We are in the space between what was and what is to come.
The space between what's wrong and right
Is where you'll find me hiding, waiting for you
The space between your heart and mine
Is the space we’ll fill with time.
I love The Dave Matthews Band (DMB), and I especially love their song The Space Between. As I read the lyrics, I cannot help but apply the essence of the love-relationship song to my relationship with God. God is always waiting for me. I cannot squeeze Him into any corner, nor will He ever not have time for me. Yet, like many of you, I often find there is a feeling of emptiness at this time of year. Why is that and how do I fill it? How do I fill the time?
I think the secret is very simple. Gratitude.
Remember in November when we posted on Facebook the things for which we were grateful? (And we intended to do that every day of the year, not just around the Thanksgiving holiday!) And the day after Thanksgiving kicked off the Christmas season. Even with the stress of holiday shopping, we were on a roll, a high. Do you remember the feeling of gratitude that enveloped us during that time of giving and receiving? The warmth of kindness we felt as we helped those in need? The joy that came with worshipping our saviour with songs, prayers, and praise?
That season, those feelings, are not controlled by the calendar. The season can be eternal. Fill the space in your heart with gratitude to God and you will begin to look at your life with awe, renewed hope, and patience. The new year will blush pink with promise, not the blueish hue of sadness. Give thanks for the ordinary and the extraordinary.
The quiet dusting of winter dew, untouched in early morning light.
The silent, enormous message of love conveyed in the goodbye wave of an elderly parent.
Arms wrapped around tight, the healing hug.
Farmhouses, held together by old paint and a firm foundation, still standing to testify to life and love.
God’s Word. The promise that there is no empty space between you and Him.
Gratitude bestows reverence, allowing us to encounter everyday epiphanies, those transcendent moments of awe that change forever how we experience life and the world.
