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Stories Seldom Heard 318th Edition – January 1, 2026 “Winter Treasures:” An Invitation
Welcome to Stories Seldom Heard. At the beginning of this new year, I invite you to participate in an ancient spiritual practice. Many of you already have this tradition. It doesn’t have to be on New Year’s Eve; choose any day or time that works for you. Who knows what might emerge? The invitation is simple. Find a quiet place. Turn off your devices, if possible. Set aside 30+ minutes to reflect on the past year. In other words, take an inventory of your life. Begin by reading the words of the Prophet Isaiah: “I will give you treasures out of the darkness, and riches that have been hidden away so that you will know that I am your God who has called you by name (Is. 45:3).
During this quiet time, most of us will experience a mixed bag of emotions and memories. Our hearts will be filled with gratitude and appreciation for the people we love and the world in which we live. Others may be grieving the loss of a family member or friend. As we look around our nation and the world, a profound sadness may settle in our hearts. For those living in fear, surrounded by violence, or worn down by poverty, our hearts break. Linger with the memories and images. Take your time. Begin this year’s spiritual journal by being attentive. All these feelings—and more—invite us into a deeper relationship with Holy Mystery: God, the Divine.
Saint Teresa reminds us that the spiritual journey is a journey of consciousness. It is a journey of becoming deeply aware of the grace and gifts we have received, as well as the failings and disappointments of our personal and collective decisions. It is not a gentle journey. T. S. Eliot warns that this journey can be lonely because we become aware of our limitations and yearnings, yet it can also be a place where we meet and are drawn into the Mystery of God.
What matters is that we enter the journey wholeheartedly and respond thoughtfully and compassionately. When we do, we not only become who we are created to be—lovers of God and one another—but also contribute to the physical and spiritual transformation of the world.
The spiritual journey the saints invite us into is a place of mystery, silence, and darkness. It is not the darkness of fear, winter storms or power outages. Rather, it is a darkness that holds the presence of God. It is the darkness of Isaiah, “where treasures are found and savored.” The poet Rainer Maria Rilke offers a similar insight. Darkness embraces everything. It is sacred—a birthing place that holds a Divine presence and stirs the flames of faith and love.
You, darkness, of whom I am born I love you more than the flame That limits the world To the circle it illumines And excludes all the rest.
But the darkness embraces everything: Shapes and shadows, creatures and me, People, nations—just as they are.
It lets me imagine A great presence stirring beside me.
I believe in the night (1).
Listening to scripture, prophets, and poets, we realize that even though we are people who sit in the darkness of suffering, incompleteness, and doubt, we are also people who experience new beginnings, for the One who has called us never forgets us. In the darkness of the womb of the God we were created and that Divine presence continues to stir our awareness.
Meister Eckhart describes this stirring as “an aptitude for creativity, a rich sensitivity which will make us (and the world) whole.” I sensed this creative, hopeful Spirit many times during the Advent and Christmas seasons. I noticed a quieter, more serious spirit in gatherings of family and friends. There seemed to be a deeper appreciation for small kindnesses. People made a genuine effort to engage in conversation. They didn’t just talk—they listened and asked curious, considerate questions. No one claimed to have “the” answer, but everyone listened for whispers of truth and hope. A strong Presence stirred sincere words of encouragement and support. God was actively present in our small and large efforts as we reached out to others. God incarnate—God with us—is alive and well in many ways.
We are not alone as we sit in prayer today. We are not alone when we make important decisions. The Spirit who dwells in the darkness guides our choices, strengthens our faith and enables us to become who we are created to be—lovers of God and one another—people who contribute to the physical and spiritual transformation of the world.
May our daily awareness of God’s presence help us enter more deeply into the spiritual journey to which we are called. May we be blessed with the gifts of deep listening and deeper understanding. May we appreciate our incompleteness as a blessing: an invitation. Wendell Berry says this more poetically.
It may be that when we no longer know What to do We have come to our real work, And that when we no longer know Which way to go We have begun our real journey. The mind that is not baffled Is not employed. The impeded stream Is the one that sings (2).
A blessed and peace‑seeking new year!
Footnotes 1. Rilke’s Book of Hours, edited by Anita Barrows and Joanna Macy, Riverhead Books, New York, 1996. p. 57. 2. Standing by Words,by Wendell Berry, 1983. Special thanks to Mary Ellen Green and Maria Hetherton who have helped in editing this article. Also, special thanks to Bob McGrath who conscientiously mails SSH to you each month. Without Bob’s generosity this service would not be possible. Bob utilizes Constant Contact for mailing. If you wish to change your email address please send your new email address to Bob at robert.mcgrath@mgrc.com. Thank you. "Stories Seldom Heard" is a monthly article written by Sister Patricia Bruno, OP. Sister is a Dominican Sister of San Rafael, California. This service is offered to the Christian Community to enrich one's personal and spiritual life. The articles can be used for individual or group reflection. If you would like "Stories Seldom Heard" sent to a friend, please send a note to Sister Patricia at brunoop2017@gmail.com. If you would like to support this ministry, please send a donation to Dominican Sisters of San Rafael, c/o Sister Patricia Bruno, OP, 40 Locust Avenue, San Rafael, CA 94901. Thank you.
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