At this time of year I always look forward to the shortest day, Te Pō Tūtanga nui o Pipiri, also called the winter solstice.

I know we still have lots of cold, wet days to come but for me the solstice is a sign of promise, a sign that winter won’t last for ever. The days will gradually get longer, lighter and warmer, and spring will come again.

The journey of our lives is also made up of seasons: times of birth and growth, activity and achievement, struggle and maturing, rest and recreation, aging and death. We’re all at different stages of our journey but one of the things we share is that none of us knows what the future will hold. To me that means we need to make the most of every moment, living as fully and joyfully as we can.

To help us do this, one of the most fruitful questions I think we can ask ourselves at any stage in our lives is, what is this season in my life for?

Is it a time for building a career, for making a family, for exploring the world, for discovering who we are or who we might be? Or is it a time for slowing the pace of our lives, for connecting with family and friends, for remembering and giving thanks, for trying to be more present in every moment? If we think about what our days are for, then maybe we can live in them more fully.

I know that I’ve reached a time in my life when I’m trying to slow the pace of things. My last job was very busy. I had a lot of responsibility and although I was part of a team, I often worked alone. I enjoyed it, however it was stressful and I got to the point where I realised that if I didn’t make a change, I’d be there for the rest of my life.

Now I’m at Tamahere I’m still busy, but it’s a different kind of busy. It feels like there’s more time for people: more time to stop and talk, more time for listening and building relationships, more time for sharing at depth, a whole lot more time for being present. And that’s the point of my job as chaplain, to be present and available like salt and light, bringing the taste and flavour and goodness of God wherever and whenever it’s needed.

As we mark the turning of time this winter, may we all seek to live more intentionally, aware of the seasons of the year and our own lives, making the most of every moment and responding to the call of God on our hearts. Amen.