February, the shortest month of the year, is often brimming with celebrations and love. Yet, as we step into this month in 2025, it feels like the year has already ushered in a whirlwind of change. Change, as we know, is inevitable, but it doesn’t always come with a welcome mat. It can be unsettling, challenging, and even overwhelming. But as Florence Scovel Shinn, a renowned spiritual teacher, once wrote, “There is a Divine Design for each man” (Shinn, 1925, p. 12). This idea suggests that even when the path ahead seems arduous, there is a greater plan at work—one that we may not fully understand in the moment.
Shinn’s teachings remind us that we are equipped to handle whatever confronts us. Sometimes, all it takes is a deep breath to regain focus and find the energy to keep moving forward, one step at a time. This sentiment resonates deeply as we navigate the complexities of life. If there was ever a time to get right with oneself, it is now. And what better place to start than with love?
Love, in its many forms, has the power to ground us. Whether it’s self-love, the love we share with others, or the love we find in small, everyday moments, it serves as a foundation for resilience. As the philosopher Erich Fromm (1956) noted in The Art of Loving, “Love is not primarily a relationship to a specific person; it is an attitude, an orientation of character which determines the relatedness of a person to the world as a whole” (p. 46). This perspective encourages us to approach life with an open heart, even in the face of uncertainty.
As we move through this fifth Sunday of the year, let us remember that while change may be inevitable, so too is our capacity to adapt and grow. Let us take a moment to breathe deeply, to reconnect with ourselves, and to embrace the love that surrounds us. After all, as Shinn (1925) wisely observed, “Faith knows there is always a way out, and a way up, under all conditions” (p. 34).
Here’s to finding that way—one step, one breath, and one act of love at a time.
References
Fromm, E. (1956). The art of loving. Harper & Row.
Shinn, F. S. (1925). The game of life and how to play it. Cosimo Classics.
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