For me, there’s something extraordinary about February! It’s ‘neat and tidy’ – being 28 days (most of the time), exactly four weeks long – and I think my slightly compulsive mind likes the symmetry, the mathematics of it. So for example, if 9 February is a Sunday, then you know that 9 March is also a Sunday – very handy. I also enjoy how short it is – it is over in the blink of an eye, and it doesn’t hang around as long as those very annoying months with a whole 30 or 31 days.
I am sure that as humans, we want things to fit into nice little orderly packages, but frustratingly, as we all know, life isn’t as neat and tidy as February. It doesn’t fit into perfect four-week blocks or wrap up as quickly as we might like. Days spill over into weeks, challenges arise when we least expect them, and the unexpected seems to have a way of derailing even the best-laid plans.
As much as we might long for the kind of order and brevity February offers, life can feel messy, chaotic and sometimes downright overwhelming. Relationships can be complicated, work can pile up, and there are always unpredictable moments – good and bad – that disrupt our routines. And yet, this is exactly what makes life so rich, so full of possibilities.
Where do we find our balance in the midst of this messiness? For me, faith provides a framework to navigate life’s unpredictability. It doesn’t promise to make everything perfect or easy, but it offers tools to help us face challenges with grace and resilience.
Faith reminds us that we’re not alone. When life feels chaotic, knowing we’re part of something bigger can be comforting – a story that stretches far beyond ourselves. Church, in particular, creates a sense of community, a space where people can gather, share their joys and struggles, and find support. It reminds us that we’re not meant to do life alone.
With its fleeting days and hints of spring, February also reminds me of hope. It points us forward. The days grow longer, the first signs of new life begin to emerge, and there’s the quiet promise of brighter days ahead. Faith works in much the same way. It offers hope even when life feels dormant or bleak, assuring us that renewal and transformation are always possible.
So, while February might appeal to my love of order and symmetry, it also teaches me to embrace the beauty of life’s imperfections. Just as February’s brevity reminds us to cherish the moment, faith encourages us to find joy and meaning even in the messiest parts of our lives.
As we catch glimpses of spring’s arrival this February, perhaps we can take a moment to reflect. Life may never be as tidy as February’s four weeks, but that’s okay (even February has an ‘odd’ day every four years). In the messiness, there’s beauty, connection, and hope – the things that make life worth living.
And who knows? Maybe this February, you might even find yourself drawn to explore faith or visit a church. It’s not about finding perfect answers or wrapping life up into a tidy little package, but about discovering peace and meaning in the middle of the beautiful chaos.
There are services every Thursday at 10.30 am, and every Sunday at 8 am and 11.30 am, but beyond that, the church is open every day for you to just come and sit, to be still and reflect.
Have a wonderful February, and enjoy its short appearance.
God bless
Fr Rob is the Anglican Chaplain at Igreja Nossa Senhora da Luz
