I spent this week at home with COVID! What a bummer.

Having come through the pandemic together, it’s weird to be back in “lockdown” mode all by myself. I’m bored of my room. I’m bored of being inside.

It also meant that for two years in a row, I’ve had to miss our December YRE gathering! Last year it was because of weather, when no one could get around. This year, our amazing new RE Coordinator Kim Clough is taking the lead while I’m at home.

It reminded me of how difficult this season can be for those of us who, for a variety of reasons, have difficulty connecting with all of the opportunities and obligations this season brings to many of our lives. So much happens at this time of year that can make us feel like we are missing out. And at the same time, so much happens this time of year that can make us feel overwhelmed and burnt out! What a crazy conundrum to be in!

It calls to my mind the way that Charlie Brown even experiences his holiday through the lens of his own feelings.

That’s how it is for so many of us. The holidays are excitement and some dread. They pull up emotions we don’t always expect. We are overwhelmed and disappointed, sometimes both at once.

This season may put you in your feelings. Or, you may notice other people who have fallen into their own. And that means that we can show up for one another in this season in special ways. We can show up authentically and own our feelings. And we can show up for those who need extra care and extra support in this season of the year.

Sometimes it is hard to tap into our spiritual selves or find time to nurture our creativity and intellectual curiosity. Here is a section that reflects on some nourishing materials from around the web and related media channels in order to get us thinking, get us feeling, and get us reflecting on the lives we are living in this big world. **Some Adult/Mature Themes May Appear in Links and Other Attached Material**

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Allan T. Georgia, MDiv, MTS, PhD