Do you Have "The Mid-Winter Blues"

1. Can you believe that the temps are going to be falling so low through the next 24 hours that it may be the coldest day in 20+ years?

2. Do you realize that today, January 6, 2014 could be called the most depressing day of the year? The reason being is that today is "back to work" after the holidays.

3. Do you also realize that today, January 6, 2014 will be the first wave of people to give up on their New Years resolutions?

So, these and many others, are reasons why many suffer from the mid-winter blues. 

Below, I have listed some of the symptoms of the blues. Look at the list and see if you have any of these. I think I suffer from at least 5!

• Change in appetite, particularly for sweet or starchy foods.
• Weight gain.
• Change in sleep patterns.
• Tendency to oversleep.
• Avoidance of social situations.
• Decreased ability to concentrate.
• Irritability.
• Decreased energy.

I am just wondering if churches go through the "mid-winter Blues"? My answer is: Probably! I wonder if the above bullet list comes into play in our own spiritual lives?
Let's face it: Some of us are not having any fun or enjoyment out of the same old routine of just getting to church on Sunday morning.

Using the above list, here is how it can apply to the Winter Church Blues:

• Change in appetite (do we hunger for more of God or more of the excitement of the holidays?)
• Weight gain. (Our holiday patterns, gifts, company of friends and family, bitterness, etc...are any of these things putting more pressure on us that we need time to work it out?)
• Change in sleep patterns. (enough said)
• Tendency to oversleep. (enough said)
• Avoidance of social situations. (We were so overwhelmed with all the parties, shopping in huge crowds that we need a break from people?)
• Decreased ability to concentrate. (too many thoughts running through my mind from the visits, the conversations, just too many things on my plate! etc...)
• Irritability. (Are there some spiritual things that need worked out but you are being battled in your mind by your spiritual enemy?)
• Decreased energy. (Let's face it...it takes stamina and work to get a family to church on a cold, wintry Sunday morning!)

Ok, here is a link from Duke University on how to shake the Winter Blues:
http://tip.duke.edu/node/737

If you choose to read this article you will find the ideas very interesting...and if you apply them to your spiritual life, they are very similar:

Get Physical
Get Creative
Get Curious
Get Organized
Get Involved

May the power of Christ be upon you as you fight the Winter Blues. If you win this battle, the winter of 2014 could be the greatest time in your life with many blessings from above.