The days following Christmas and New Years are often a big letdown. I blame it on the fact that the buildup to the winter holidays is so long—as far back as Labor Day or perhaps the start of the school year in August. Throughout the Fall season, even if we're no longer in school, there seems to be a big push toward the events at the end of the year. Stores and shopping centers start putting up Christmas decorations and promoting the latest trends in gift-giving. The football season begins and takes over our attention and money (at least for
some people). Along comes Halloween and Thanksgiving, with the days after Thanksgiving—Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday—being part of the final push for Christmas shopping. While all of this is happening, there are school programs, special concerts, holiday parties, and family gatherings. The excitement and energy continue to build and build.
This level of excitement drops off a bit after the last Christmas present is opened or perhaps after the last bite of Christmas dinner. But it picks back up the next day as folks head back to the stores. Instead of buying gifts for others, their mission now is to buy presents for themselves, getting what they "really" wanted for Christmas. This is followed by the ringing in of the New Year, which is typically a big celebration with parties, parades, and bowl games.
When January 2nd (or thereabouts) rolls around, the holiday season with its long buildup is finally over. The excitement and energy come to a screeching halt. The month that follows gives us little cause for celebration. The days are short. The weather is cold, often with snow and ice that keeps us shut-up indoors. There are no major festivities for at least a month until Valentine's Day on February 14. Yes, January is often a dull and depressing month.
How do we combat these January blues? I have a few ideas. (1) Pray—this is something we should be doing year-round, but we especially need to pray during the dreary days of January. (2) Come to church whenever the weather allows. Not only do we worship the Lord at church, but we also have a wonderful time of fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ—oftentimes with coffee, cookies, and other goodies. Plus, there are various activities during the middle of the week to bridge the gap between Sundays. What a great way to combat loneliness. (3) Try something new and/or rediscover something old. It could be reading a book just for fun, writing in a journal, singing or playing a musical instrument, creating artwork, getting back in touch with a long-lost friend or relative, volunteering your time, and the list goes on.
I invite you to take deliberate steps to battle the January doldrums. Things may be bleak now, but before long the days will be sunny and warm, the sun will rise earlier and set later, and then we'll be looking ahead to Easter and the end of the school year. In the meantime, there is plenty to do and I hope you'll make McMurry a bit part of your life, not only in January but throughout the year 2025. See you in church!
Grace & Peace
Pastor Clayton