Cherishing hope for all seasons

Lights along an Elm Street sidewalk in Woodstock Village. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

It wasn't long ago that varying temperatures and the crunch of leaves under our feet were common features of the outdoor experience. But now, we're firmly in the chilly grasp of winter, and — if the forecasters have it right — we'll soon feel even more snow crunching underfoot.

The full arrival of wintertime is one more reminder that, regardless of changing human circumstances, the natural world rolls on. There is some comfort in the constancy of nature — it has ushered in the seasons we're already familiar with, during a year full of things unfamiliar. The experience that sticks in my mind the most was the shift from winter into spring, and what a huge sense of hope, comfort and renewal it inspired. The world was coming alive, showing its brilliant light and resilience, and posing a stern, visual challenge to the dark shadows of adversity.

Today, we're faced with a winter of now-familiar obstacles, including the pandemic, political tensions, and the struggling economy. But even as these loom large, we don't have to forsake the feelings of hope the spring inspired. We can remember all that’s been renewed and richly expressed, time and again, which is our love of and dedication to our neighbors and communities, and our collective strength in the face of many hurdles.

Those virtues remain at the heart of our existence, because they are foundational to us. They persist because we are still here, with each other, and for each other. No matter how steep a mountain we have to climb, we can still genuinely seek ways to work together for good and witness progress. That's a foundation made from hope, and one we can still build on.

— Gareth Henderson