The “Nature” of Groundhog Day
An NPR article published yesterday was entitled “An earnest defense of America’s silliest holiday: Groundhog Day.” And it IS silly! There are top hats, there’s a famous rodent who sees his shadow, and there’s even a comedy film from the ‘90s highlighting the silliness of both of those things. But as the article points out, there is a depth to this day that is easy to miss – one which we invite you to explore this year.
“Groundhog Day is the only popular American holiday that explicitly celebrates our relationship with nature and reliance on the delicate balance of the seasons,” writes journalist Avery Keatley. In today’s world, it is all too easy to feel separated from nature, and to forget that we are still reliant on things being in balance. And as we’ve been reminded recently, there can be dire consequences when things are out of balance. So in honor of Groundhog Day – and the six additional weeks of winter we were promised this morning – reconnect with nature!
We are blessed with the mildest of winters here in Arizona, so it’s entirely possible during this time of year to go on a nature walk or hike, to ride bikes, to have a picnic, to do some gardening, or to just sit in nature for meditation or prayer. Choose your preferred outdoor activity and really soak things in.
You can also take action to help keep things in balance. There are lots of small things (and some big ones, of course) that you can do, from picking up roadside trash to more carefully separating your recycling, or turning off the water while you brush your teeth, or walking somewhere instead of driving…you get the idea!
Finally, consider what you can do to help others who have been impacted by the results of an imbalance. Desert Mission is still collecting donations for wildfire relief, for example, but there are as many opportunities to help as there are natural disasters – and unfortunately, there are plenty of both.
While Groundhog Day might ultimately remain a silly holiday, it can, if we let it, guide us gently towards an appreciation of this Earth and its many gifts. So feel free to share your appreciation for Punxsutawney Phil with us on Facebook or Instagram!
