Groundhog Season!

I found myself recently motivated to do a little research which in turn led me to groundhog.org which is apparently one of the few 'official' sites for Punxsutawney Phil. It would seem that the groundhog day tradition stems from beliefs associated with Candlemas Day in which clergy would bless candles and distribute them to people marking a milestone in the Winter season.
An old English song goes;

If Candlemas be fair and bright,
Come, Winter, have another flight;
If Candlemas brings clouds and rain,
Go Winter, and come not again.

Presumably, Roman legions brought this tradition to the Germans who concluded that if the sun made an appearance on Candlemas Day (Feb 2nd) and the European hedgehog would cast a shadow, you guessed it, six more weeks of winter! Some of Pennsylvania's earliest settlers were Germans and indeed found a striking resemblance between the North American groundhog and their beloved hedgehog. There you have it!.

Fast forward to Feb 2nd, 2008 at sunrise when from atop Gobbler's Knob Punxsutawney Phil uttered these fateful words, "As I look around me, a bright sky I see, and a shadow beside me. Six more weeks of Winter it will be!"

Okay, here's my question. Who in the world gave this groundhog the authority to declare 6 more weeks of Winter!!! He's living high and mighty like no other groundhog, or hedgehog for that matter, ever has before. Warm and cozy with the best groundhog food money can buy. Not a care in the world I'm telling you lest there would be a groundhog season in good old Pennsylvania. Then old Phil wouldn't be so quick to come out of his box to look for his shadow would he and we would have a reprieve from the blustery cold of Winter's chill.

Does this forecast ever occur in you spiritual life and cause you to wish for a 'groundhog season?' Just when you think you're finally over something or you're about to experience a breakthrough out comes your 'Phil' and declares more Winter is yet to come. We often get discouraged in our Winters with the isolation and dreary gray days but I believe that if our Winters were as short as we wanted them to be then our Springs, Summers and Autumns wouldn't be quite as special.

Solomon said, "To every thing there is a season and a time to every purpose under Heaven!"
I imagine that if you read Ecclesiastes 3 v1-8 you'll likely find your season listed as well but take heart for in whatever state you find yourself, give thanks and remember that this too shall pass!

Blessings! Pastor Curt