by Joanie Butman
As I write, I’m relishing a snowy Sunday. I’ve always loved the winter: long nights, cozy fires, snow angels, snow men, the peaceful silence after a snow fall, a blanket of calm offering respite from a chaotic world. Not everyone enjoys “wintering” in this sense. For many, “wintering” involves a trip to a warm, sunny location, not the spot I claim by the fireplace with a stack of reading, comfy clothes, and a cup of peppermint hot chocolate.
The Danish have a word for the kind of wintering I enjoy: hygge, pronounced “hoo-gah.” Hygge has been called everything from “the art of creating intimacy,” to “coziness of the soul,” and even, “cocoa by candlelight.” * Perhaps the Dane’s ability to cherish the simple things in life explains the reason Denmark is known as one of the world’s happiest countries.
The best thing about winter is that it gives me license to enjoy a plethora of quiet time to build intimacy with God, resulting in the coziness of the soul the Danish describe. It’s not that this heart condition can’t be achieved any time of the year, it’s just that there are less distractions during the winter as I’m not tempted to be out and about. Winter for me is about stillness and reflection. As I watch the falling snow, knowing that every snowflake is unique, how could I not marvel at God’s handiwork?
I didn’t realize it at the time, but a few friends and I enjoyed a “hygge” party Friday night. It was a pajama party in the sense that we all wore our most comfy pajamas and ate pizza and cake. The contentment I felt enjoying fellowship by the fire was balm for my soul. I was filled with overwhelming gratitude for the blessing of friendship with these Godly women with whom I’ve shared trials and triumphs for so long. I feel the same way on my Thursday Zoom Bible Study sessions wearing my infamous pink, fluffy robe.
God longs for us to strip away our “outdoor” persona and snuggle up with Him regardless of the weather. No makeup, no Spanx; just elastic waistbands, vulnerability and authenticity. It is the path towards peace and contentment. Finally, the importance of choosing to create hygge in your life is so that you can access it when your circumstances are anything but cozy and your mind is far from peaceful or content. St. Paul wasn’t Danish but he describes the art of hygge in Phillipians 4:11-13.
“I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”
How do you choose to create hygge in your life?
*https://www.self.com/story/practicing-hygge-danish-lifestyle