From the South

Written by Microsoft Copilot in the style of Andrew Hawes, PM — Jr. Warden

(with express consent from Wor. Hawes prior to publishing)

December is here, brethren, and with it comes the end of another year. I always find myself a little contemplative this time of year — maybe it’s the colder weather, maybe it’s the shorter days, or maybe it’s just the fact that the calendar is about to flip over again and remind me that time marches on whether I’m ready for it or not.

Now, December is supposed to be a season of joy, of cheer, of goodwill toward men. And yet, I’ve noticed that it can also be one of the most stressful months of the year. Between holiday shopping, family gatherings, travel plans, and the general rush of trying to “wrap things up” before January, it’s easy to lose sight of the joy and get caught up in the frenzy.

But here’s the thing: joy isn’t something that just happens to us. It’s something we choose. Much like optimism, much like gratitude, joy is a discipline. It’s a practice. And sometimes it takes work.

I’ll admit, I’ve had Decembers where I’ve grumbled more than I’ve smiled. The traffic, the crowds, the endless commercials telling me what I need to buy. But then I remind myself — this season isn’t about the stress, it’s about the spirit. It’s about finding those small moments of warmth and holding onto them. The laughter of family around the dinner table. The quiet beauty of a candle flickering in the window. Even the simple pleasure of a mug of hot cocoa after coming in from the cold.

If you let yourself, you can miss all of that by focusing only on the chaos. But if you choose to look for it, you’ll find that December is full of silver linings.

So my advice this month is simple: don’t let the rush steal your joy. Slow down. Take a breath. Remember that the greatest gifts aren’t the ones wrapped in paper, but the ones wrapped in love, kindness, and fellowship.

And when the ball drops on New Year’s Eve, don’t just think about resolutions or regrets. Think about gratitude. Think about the fact that you’ve been given another year, another chance, another day to live well and to live kindly.

Happy December, brethren. May your holidays be filled with peace, and may your new year be filled with purpose.

Now, I think I’ll go pour myself that cocoa.