Winter

It's dark when I get up and when I get home. Bitter cold, ice, and snow make regular appearances. The fire pit, grill and fountain are dormant along with plants that were once green and flowering. It's winter. I have stopped questioning people who go south for the winter. I now get it! In his book Spiritual Rhythm, Author Mark Buchanan talks about the role of each season in our spiritual lives.  He says this about winter:

Winter shames those in it. It feels like personal failure, something we caused, or missed, or faltered in. We chide ourselves for being there. We are sure it's our fault.  We wonder if we're crazy, lazy or stupid. What I do believe, now, is that our hearts have seasons, and the longest of them, if not in duration then in intensity, is winter.

I still despise much about winter, but I have a new appreciation for this season in my life, including spiritually, and in my leadership. While there may be self-created causes for dry periods both spiritually and in our leadership, winter can also be a healthy and normal part of life. If you are personally in winter and you cannot identify a cause, it may be a time for you to endure, rather than fix. To continue on in spite of feeling dry rather than because of feeling great. (Unless of course you live in San Diego! It's always nice there. At least that's what I've been told).

Jay Desko is the CEO of The Center Consulting Group and brings experience in the areas of organizational assessment, leadership coaching, decision-making, and strategic questioning. Jay’s degrees include an M.Ed. in Instructional Systems Design from Pennsylvania State University and a Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior and Leadership from The Union Institute.