Exhale...

The power of ordinary days.

I know many of us are headlong into 2026. Planning. Leaning in.

Anyone still coming out of the coma of the holiday season? I’m somewhere in the middle of both states.

I’ve spoken on the beauty of the liturgical calendar before, and here I am again appreciating its markers. Its boundaries.

The Christian liturgical calendar is followed by Catholics, Anglicans, Lutherans, Presbyterians, and others. It marks out distinct seasons of preparation, celebration, and restoration, and aligns significant memorials of our faith.

Last week, we began ordinary time. And like one of my professors likes to say, it would be better described as “ordered time”. It’s not that its the most boring time of the year in the life of the Church. It’s simply a time of regularly scheduled programming.

I don’t know about you, but after the height of festivities from Nov- New Year’s, it’s a welcome break.

Feasting and carrousing is great, but we need the normalcy. We need the balance.

A friend shared a reflection this weekend that is just marinating and giving me peace and rest. There is a stone relief in his church depicting Joseph and Jesus, recently returned from their annual pilgrimage to Jerusalem for the Passover feast. A young Jesus sits playfully in Joseph’s workshop with a large bunch of grapes.

Just a moment of resetting at home. Imagine dad putting things away from the journey. Jesus playfully back at home, having a snack break (not withstanding the significant foreshadowing).

I could immediately relate to the scene. As we have puttered away this long holiday weekend, tidying, playing games, catching up on work both personal and professional, I’ve thought of the image many times.

I’m grateful for the seasonal shift. For the newness and the letting go that are opportunities in each new phase of the year.

Allow this scene to bring you peace, refresh, and reset as you head into your week.