St. Brigid and the Groundhog

We are at the turning point of winter. This time has been recognized by many cultures, across many centuries and across many continents. Imbolc, St. Brigid's Day, Candlemas and Groundhog Day all arrive in the first days of February and mark a turn toward spring. Winter is not yet done, however ne hope, new light, and new life are beginning to come forth. 

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Welcome to season four of Faith in the Cracks. I'm Pastor Karen Wright. Life has cracks, moments between activities, places where we feel fractured. This is the space where we listen for God in the ordinary moments of life, where we are reminded that just as cracks let things in, it's a space for light and love to shine through. So just like plants grow in the cracks of a sidewalk, let faith grow in the cracks of our lives, trusting that God is at work within us. Episode 4. At the beginning of February, it is a fascinating moment on the calendar. Early February, particularly the first, second, and third, is a cluster of celebrations. In bulk, the feast day of Saint Bridget, Groundhog Day, and Candle Moss. Now, on the surface, they seem rather unrelated. You have an ancient Celtic festival, an early Christian saint, a quirky American tradition with roots that go back to Germany, and a church holy day with candles. But actually they all tell somewhat the same story. You see, this marks the halfway point of winter. It's a turning point. The darkness and cold are still real. Winter is still here, but there's a beginning of a shift. The days are getting noticeably longer. The lights were turning a little earlier in the morning. And we will begin to see the first signs under the frozen ground as seeds begin to stir. So Imbalk, which was celebrated long before Christianity came to Ireland, honored those first signs of spring. And it's often thought to go with the ewes were beginning to give milk, which they could then have milk for their stores. You begin to get tiny shoots of plants coming up through the soil. So it was a festival of hope and a reminder that winter was not going to last forever. And as Christianity spread and St. Bridget became a beloved patroness of Ireland, Bridget was known for hospitality and compassion and care for the poor. And her feast day was put on February 1st, and this marker, as a threshold between old ways and a new faith that was emerging, as a threshold between winter and spring. Candle moss, and I just learned about several of these in this last year, on February 2nd is another layer. And it's a reminder of Jesus being presented in the temple and Simeon calling Jesus a light for revelation. And so it's been a tradition that people bless candles on this day, and the light shining in the winter or shining in the darkness of the world. And then it's Groundhog Day. And German immigrants brought this tradition, and they had a badger, evidently, in Germany. And so they've used a groundhog, and the most famous is Punxitani Phil. And so we still have this wonder of will Phil see his shadow? And it's a playful ritual, but it's that same instinct. We're halfway through winter, and how much longer will it be? Now, by the calendar dates, it's another six weeks, whether Phil sees his shadow or not. And it's just fascinating that different regions and different countries, different centuries all have a similar truth. They all were working on celebrating that life was slowly returning. Winter's not over, but we begin to notice the gradual changes. The thaw doesn't happen all at once. New life doesn't just pop forth overnight. But it's the small, gradual ways. And I think our lives reflect that is we don't move in single leaps. Healing happens slowly. Hope returns quietly. Faith grows bit by bit. Transformation is in small increments usually. And so maybe, like me, you're in a winter season, and it feels like a time to go inward, a time to let your energy be low. Maybe you feel a little frozen. But this beginning of February, these traditions from different centuries and different continents are a reminder that small signs, little bit more daylight, little things that peep through the cracks are on their way. We're not done with winter, but we are moving towards spring. And in faith we believe in that which we cannot yet fully see or know. And so we keep letting the light stream through the cracks bit by bit, piece by piece. Saint Bridget was known for an eternal flame that her monastery tended for over a thousand years. It went out and was relit in 1993, and now the Brigidine sisters in Kildare keep that flame burning. And it's the whispers, whether it's the groundhog or St. Bridget or in Bulk, life is beginning to awaken. So where do you see winter beginning to crack? Where do you notice light returning? Because it's in those cracks that God begins to meet us. So even though it's still winter, it will soon give way to spring. So may in the coming week you notice the light just a little bit longer, just a little bit warmer than it was before. Until next time. Thanks for listening. New podcasts are released every Monday. If you like the show, share it with a friend, or scroll to the bottom of the episode description and support the show for the cost of a cup of coffee once a month. You can also check out my webpage at faithinthecracks.com. As you go through your week, remember you are a child of God and you are loved. May God seep into the cracks and bring forth new life.