Silhouette of a deer standing on a hill at night
This is a lovely moment – the winter solstice.
The darkest day of the darkest week of the year . . .
. . . when the movement of descent into darkness pauses.
. . . when the rhythm of the sun pauses before it changes from decrease to increase.
. . . when the dominance of night pauses before light overtakes darkness.
If you pay close attention, you can feel it – the pause before the shift.
This darkest day beckons us to pause, too.
What does any great athlete do before they …
… dive into the water
… throw the discus
… grab the rings
They pause.
What are they thinking about?
Nothing — absolutely nothing.
Shabbat means cease and rest. That is what the solstice reminds us to do.
Just stop and be.
Go a little more slowly. Be a little gentler.
Soon the darkness will begin to recede and light will begin to increase. Hope and desire will increase. We’ll think about setting goals and moving forward into the new year.
But first, take a moment to pause before you plan.
Pause and do nothing.
This is the special moment of between – the moment that separates what was from what can be.
This is my annual tribute to the winter solstice. I hope you can take some time between the festivities of the holidays to relax, reflect, and think about nothing.
Finally yesterday – on the Solstice – the house was decorated, the presents wrapped, an the family off for a few hours. It felt good just to sit and enjoy the lights in quiet for a few minutes.
Thanks for sharing your experience of pausing, Betsy. Isn’t it especially nice to pause when something is finished before moving on to the next thing?
Oh, I like this Jesse. I’m pausing right now and taking it in.
Thanks
Delighted to hear that!
I like this message too, Jesse. I was with my family in NH last night with funny hats, Indian food to go filling the table and all our senses, fresh pine boughs and lights hung around the room, our faces lit by candle light. We paused and looked around to take it in. It was a sweet moment. It seems our faces look kinder in candle light and maybe in fact we are.
A lovely story about the sweet experience of pausing to take in the moment. Thanks for sharing!
Pause and do nothing, before you plan – is cool.
Pause and do nothing, before 2016 – is cool.
It’s only dangerous when you pause, and then do nothing.
🙂 Happy 2016
Hahah. Very good, Yoram! Warm wishes for the new year!