The Way I See It
By Joseph C. Phillips

New Year Blues

It may be that I have never really had one of those New Year celebrations that are scripted in Hollywood films: big parties, beautiful people, expensive champagne flowing like water and enough romance to last well into the morning if not deep into the New Year. More often than not after the confetti and streamers, there is a lot of standing around looking at each other as if to say: “Now what?” As for romance, the kids fall asleep around 10:30 p.m.; my wife and I are usually asleep by 11:15. Sometime around 12:30 or 1:00 a.m. one of us wakes up, nudges the other, gives a tired new year kiss and promptly falls back asleep. Exciting, I know. Fifteen new years celebrations together -- 13 of those as a married couple -- there isn’t much new to discover on New Years Eve, just more of the same.

Not quite the rousing way to bring in the New Year.

As much joy as I have during this time of year, my mood is often colored by just a twinge of sadness, what Duke Ellington called “mood indigo.” Just more of the same. It may be the recollection of family members that have passed on; it may be stress from so much hustle and bustle or it may be this is just the malaise that is often felt between harvests and planting new seeds. It is not only the human spirit that may be a bit lethargic at this time of year; the earth is also at rest. Perhaps, like the irises growing in my garden, my spirit tends to lay dormant at this time of year waiting to bloom during the first days of spring.

I have to confess that I may also be a bit dejected that this year’s harvest wasn’t as big as perhaps I would have liked. In other words, I didn’t reap the harvest that means I don’t have to sow anymore; I can just sit back and live off my charm and good looks.

But how often do any of us reap such a harvest? How often do we reap without sowing? And is there ever really a harvest of any kind without first sowing seeds? Tilling the soil is difficult work; however, a good harvest requires good soil. Difficult work brings great reward.

The Christian celebration of the birth of Christ is as much about renewal and harvest as it is about giving and sacrifice. The blues that beset so many of us during the holiday season are not so different from the general depression that afflicted the world some 2000 years ago. The world was reeling from spiritual desolation. A child was then born in a barn behind an inn and began a process of sowing seeds that would reap man’s salvation three decades later. That is reason to celebrate.

Of course before I was allowed to wallow too long in self pity, my wife reminded me of the enormity of my blessings and the grey veil began to lift. (I knew there was a reason I married her.) This has been a terrific year! My family enjoyed work, love and shelter in abundance. In addition to professional success, my children are healthy and happy and my home is filled with the sound of their play and laughter. I was blessed with health and plenty of time to spend with them watching them grow and develop. And there are few things better than the love of a good woman and my wife’s love has been plentiful. That’s a pretty good harvest by any measure.

I did not greet the New Year with the beautiful people and the champagne I opened put me right to sleep. My spirits, however, are brighter. Rather than melancholia, I am rejoicing. My mood indigo was just a breath before beginning the difficult work of sowing seeds that will yield good fruit in the future. The presence of so many blessings in my life means my ground is fertile. Fertile soil and a little sweat will yield a great harvest.

Send me your ways of seeing it at Josephcp@netlistings.com