seasonally speaking

Gabriel and I recently listened to an audio recording of Barbara Kingsolver's Animal Vegetable Miracle. I had read the book back when it was first published, told Gabriel all about it, and began to seek out more local goods because of it.

But when we listened to it together a few months ago, what struck me most was the idea that eating what is locally available teaches greater lessons than just the ecological ones: learning to eat seasonally is learning to wait. To eat and live seasonally is to embrace change, waiting out the long cold months, working through the changing seasons.

Life is not always baskets of strawberries and bushels of tomatoes.

My family has been going through a long and difficult season for nearly two years now, the details of which are too convoluted, too dark and murky, too sensitive to delve into in this space. We have been in this awkward limbo for what seems like forever, and it's hard to imagine resolution for my parent's marriage, my sister's struggles, and all of our grief.

So, we're in this season. Learning to live within it has been a challenge. I find myself sinking deep into my own family: my precious boys, my beautiful husband. I cope with each click of my knitting needles. With each yard of fabric. With each loaf of bread. With each plant I coax out of the soil and water and prune and harvest. I'm dealing.

Winter never lasts forever, but it may go on longer still. I'm learning to embrace it for what it is. What God is allowing it to be.

This embracing of the seasons, the wrapping one's self in the moment, is how we are meant to live. I think this is what drew me to the Episcopal church. What continues to draw me. The repetition of the liturgy, flowing and ebbing through the year, respecting the seasons and changes. Honoring them.

Right now is where I am supposed to be. Praise be to God.

This post is part of Suzannah's ShoutLaughLove blog carnival over at So Much Shouting So Much Laughter.