As we stand on the threshold of a new year let us begin our journey being grateful for the past and looking forward in hope to what may lie ahead of us. The New Year is an opportune time to reflect on the year gone by and to approach the future with confidence and enthusiasm.
Each morning, we start a new page in our story. The sunrise greeting us, the birds singing and the refreshing morning air, all are nature’s gifts to energise us as we welcome the new day. Nature is all around us. It teaches us how to appreciate the simplicity of life. It can generate many positive emotions, such as calmness, joy, and creativity.
During lockdown we found ourselves finding refuge in nature, and as a result, we transformed the space around us to regain and enrich our lives. Since then, we have had a renewed awareness of the benefits of connecting to nature. We became more aware of the beauty of diversity, and how everything is connected in harmony. Nature is a constant source of inspiration and healing. As the poet Gerard Manley Hopkins reminds us, “The world is charged with the grandeur of God,”
The four seasons of the year, each one with its own grandeur invites us to deep reflection. Spring is a season of new beginnings, of new life, of hope and optimism. Trees, plants and flowers start to bud. Animals awaken from their winter sleep, sheep with their new-born lambs frisk about in the fields, while the air is filled with music by the cheerful chirping of the birds.
Summer is when we get the chance to see butterflies, birds and animals in their full glory. The fields and gardens are packed full of flowers and plants in full bloom. The beaches invite us with dancing waves and space to relax as we look at the spacious blue sky and enjoy the fresh clear air. As Emily Dickinson says, “To see the Summer’s sky is poetry”
Autumn, the time of year that John Keats called the ‘Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness,’ is a season famous for its harvest times, cooling temperatures and darkening nights. One of the most stunning signs of autumn is the turning of the leaves. Trees adorned with vibrant colours of oranges, yellows and reds are a delight to see and reminds us of the inherent beauty and resilience of nature. It speaks to us of our own transitions in life and that change is inevitable.
Winter arrives after a colourful Autumn, with its crisp air and icy landscapes. Plants grow dormant, animals hibernate and birds migrate to warmer climates. A snowfall is most welcome, as it turns the place into a beautiful wonderland. When snow falls nature listens. Winter is a time for us to listen too, as we ponder over the splendour of creation.
Taking the time to cultivate gratitude for the natural world not only enhances our own well-being but also encourages a collective responsibility to preserve and protect “Our Common Home”. As we ring in the New Year 2025 let us pause as we lift up our hands in gratitude for that remarkable gift that is creation. “To see a world in a grain of sand, and a heaven in a wild flower. Hold infinity in the palm of your hand, and eternity in an hour.” (William Blake)
Sr Mary Mulcahy
Published in the January/February 2025 issue of the Far East magazine. Please subscribe and support the work of the Columbans in places like Myanmar, Pakistan, the Philippines and China. €10 for digital edition and €20 for print edition. See: https://columbans.ie/far-east-magazine/
