Here the usual preparations for Christmas are taking place. The sights and scents typical of the holidays are increasing their presence. The days are longer, and much hotter. Students are beginning to enjoy their vacation time.
Another year is drawing to an end, and the new liturgical season has started with the Advent. This is a time of wonderful expectation, reckoning, repentance, and hope; and a much needed reminder that Jesus Christ will come again. Sometimes, when the horror of living is almost too much, my only comfort is to pray with St. John the Divine: “Come, Lord Jesus!” Yea, come Lord Jesus. Amen.
Idle thought: I’ve often wondered why the Southern Hemisphere doesn’t shift some of their annual schedules to match the seasonal weather patterns, instead of slavishly following a Northern calendar. School would be a primary example.
In fact, I think that some schedules could use some restructuring; but I don’t see that in school. School ends in November, and begins in March. The winter break is usually two weeks on July.
Ah, that’s already fixed, then. Didn’t know that. I seem to remember at least one place in South America following a backward schedule at one time, but don’t recall the details.