Follow Your Own Spiritual Path
This Week's Posting

What to Do When Winter Lays Siege to Your Spirit

A post by Carolyn Scott
 

I am reminded this winter of the description Edith Wharton gives in her novel Ethan Frome of winter in New England in the 1800s. She describes the storms of February and the winds of March as laying siege to a village. Here in Pennsylvania in 2015, we have not suffered from the relentless snow -- 6 feet of it! -- that our neighbors in New England have, but we have seen many overcast skies and felt the bitter cold. Overcast may be a word that also describes your spirit after enough of these cold, sunless days. What can a person do to keep his or her spirit up? What do YOU do?

 

I asked our two primary spiritual advisers, Kent and Daniel, that question, as in "Really: what do YOU personally do?" Daniel's response was, "Well, of course, mindfulness practice." (Well, of course.) And then (with more enthusiasm) he added that he tunes into   "Today's Comedy" on Pandora.com to listen and laugh. He also seeks out contemporary gospel music, such as Tamala Mann's "Take Me to the King" or Kirk Franklin's "Imagine Me." What advice would he give to others feeling the winter blues? He gazed out into the church courtyard, now thickly patched with ice, sighed, and said, "Just keep telling yourself, 'It will pass.'"

 

Kent's response was, "Sure. I get the winter blues. Actually, it's that there's not as much sun. That can get me down." What cheers him up? "Bundling up and getting out into the cold, getting fresh air, getting sunlight on my face." Even when there is no sun? "Yeah. Well, there's always a little bit of sun." Kent is a glass half-full kind of person. And what advice would he give others? "I think it's important to get outside, even for 5 to 15 minutes. Bundle up and get some fresh air and sunlight." An hour after we spoke, Kent texted, "Please add 'and get some kind of exercise.'"

 

I confess that I don't suffer much from the winter blues; I like the briskness of the air outside and the coziness of home inside in winter. However, I do find myself thinking about color in the midst of all this bleakness. Again, I am reminded of a passage from a novel, Toni Morrison's Beloved. Baby Suggs is dying and on her deathbed asks Sethe to bring her some pink. Sethe brings in fabric, even shows Baby Suggs her tongue. Similarly, I found a spirit-lifting moment when preparing some winter vegetables for roasting. I had chopped and sliced white parsnips and cauliflower, orange carrots and butternut squash, green broccoli, tossed them all together, and --- was uplifted!

 

 

 

Whether it be with laughter, music, exercise, color, or something entirely different, 
please take good care of your spirit.
Adult Spiritual Development Programs Still Open for Registration
In this section are the programs coming up in the next two weeks which are open to registration throughout the Winter-Spring semester. They are free to USG members, although registration is required.

Wednesday, Feb. 25, 7:30 - 8:30 pm

"Who Do You Say I Am?"- Exploring Jesus of Nazareth, Jesus the Christ

To ask questions, please contact Rev. Daniel Gregoire, dsd@usguu.org

Open to participation. To register, click here .

Saturday, Mar. 7, 10:00am - 12:00noon. One-time, 2-hour event.

Introduction to Mindfulness Meditation

Led by Jerry Lindauer

Introduction to principles and practice of mindfulness meditation will include why people meditate, what meditation and mindfulness are and how people can practice mindfulness meditation. This will include presentation of information, discussion, demonstration and experience.

To ask questions, please contact Jerry Lindauer at 267-474-3201 or jerry_lindauer@comcast.net

Open to participation. To register, click here .

 

Sunday, Mar. 8, 12:30 - 2:00pm

Philadelphia UU Humanists

Led by Paul Teti. 

Monthly meeting for church members who are atheists, agnostics, humanists, free-thinkers, and anyone else with such interests. Discussion group with possible reading suggestions (like a book group). 

To ask questions, please contact Paul Teti, 215-437-5964

or cephalopagustwins@yahoo.com

Open to participation. To register,click here.




Two-Week Calendar Reminders of ASD Programs Now Filled
OWL

 

Wednesday, Feb. 25, Mar. 4, 7:00 - 9:00pm

Adult OWL, Level 1 

This class is now closed to further registration.
Monday, March 2 & 9, 9 - 10:15am Options

Mindful Mondays: Movement as Spiritual Practice 

This class is now closed for further registration
.

Calendar Reminders of Other Spiritual Events
Tuesday, March 3, 7:30 - 9pm

Finding Our Roots - 
The Earth-Honoring Traditions Group Monthly Meeting
Spiritual Development News & Announcements


Small Group Ministry Openings

There are still  openings in various SGMs. Interested? You can see which groups have openings and get more information on the Small Group Ministry page  or by asking at the Welcome Table during Fellowship Hour. You may also contact Treva Burger 

trevawb@gmail.com or Jenn Leiby at  sgm@usguu.org for more information or to sign up.

 

Contact Us

If you have ideas, suggestions, or feedback about this new SPIRIT Newsweekly, we would love to hear them! Please contact Carolyn Scott at asstadmin@usguu.org


 

To see the full roster of ASD programs, please click here.

If you have any questions about Adult Spiritual Development programs offered, please contact Gerry Whelan, ASD Chair, at gwhelanmd@gmail.com

Other questions related to Spiritual Development, including Child Spiritual Development, can be directed to Rev. Daniel Gregoire at dsd@usguu.org