Our Yearly Cycle of S'mores

 As I was reflecting on the holidays and their saints, where appropriate, I realised some holidays go together like a good smore. Our first graham cracker is St Nicholas and his season of compassion, kindness, giving and thinking of others before yourself. Then we advance to day one of the new year now focusing on ourselves and where we see our journey forward going. Our marshmallow creme is Martin Luther King and his idea of togetherness and a big dream for your life. The gooey chocolate is St. Valentine's love fest showing us to be love and give love. Then our final graham cracker is St. Patrick and his idea of culture and celebration of your roots and being proud of where you came. I feel like whoever set up the holidays must have seen a need to direct our focus. As the winter comes we need to direct our minds better and this "smore" of saints and holidays show us our direction like a good ole compass. Can you suggest other "smores" in the year and how it might direct our focus during the season to help move us forward on our life journey?

I asked ChatGPT to give me more s'more ideas.

I love your “s’more” analogy—it’s such a warm and meaningful way to see how holidays and their associated values layer together to nourish our hearts and guide our lives. Let’s build some more “s’mores” throughout the year, using the same idea of foundational principles, heartfelt inspiration, and reflective growth.

Spring S’more: The Season of Renewal

  • Graham Cracker 1: Ash Wednesday/Lent – A time of reflection, repentance, and simplification, encouraging us to strip away distractions and focus on our spiritual health.
  • Marshmallow Creme: Easter – The ultimate symbol of hope, renewal, and new beginnings, reminding us that life comes from transformation, even through challenges.
  • Gooey Chocolate: Earth Day – Celebrating creation, gratitude for the natural world, and our responsibility as stewards of the earth, connecting us to the beauty of life around us.
  • Graham Cracker 2: May Day (or Mother’s Day) – A celebration of life, growth, and nurturing—whether of family, community, or new projects—reminding us to honor those who help things grow.

Focus: Renewal, growth, and gratitude for both spiritual and earthly life.

Summer S’more: The Season of Freedom and Purpose

  • Graham Cracker 1: Flag Day (or Juneteenth) – Reflecting on freedom, history, and the cost of liberty, calling us to appreciate our rights and the struggles that shaped them.
  • Marshmallow Creme: Independence Day (July 4th) – Celebrating not just national freedom but personal independence, reminding us of the courage it takes to stand for what we believe.
  • Gooey Chocolate: St. Benedict’s Feast Day (July 11th) – The founder of Western monasticism, known for balancing work, prayer, and study—highlighting the importance of discipline and purpose in our lives.
  • Graham Cracker 2: Labor Day – Recognizing the dignity of work, the value of rest, and the contributions of individuals to the greater community.

Focus: Freedom, personal purpose, and the balance of work, rest, and responsibility.

Autumn S’more: The Season of Gratitude and Reflection

  • Graham Cracker 1: All Saints’ Day (Nov 1) – Honoring those who’ve come before us, inspiring us with stories of courage, faith, and perseverance.
  • Marshmallow Creme: Thanksgiving – A moment to pause, reflect, and express gratitude for both the big and small blessings in our lives.
  • Gooey Chocolate: Advent (leading into December) – A season of hope, anticipation, and preparation—not just for Christmas but for the deeper expectations we hold in life.
  • Graham Cracker 2: St. Andrew’s Day (Nov 30) or St. Lucy’s Day (Dec 13) – Celebrating light in the darkness, guiding us to find purpose even as the days grow shorter.

Focus: Gratitude, remembrance, and hope, with a heart prepared for the light to come.

Bonus S’more: The Personal Growth Cycle

If we step back, the entire year itself forms a kind of giant s’more:

  • Foundation (Graham Cracker 1): Compassion & Reflection (St. Nicholas, Lent)
  • Heart (Marshmallow Creme): Togetherness & Renewal (MLK, Easter, Summer holidays)
  • Soul (Gooey Chocolate): Love & Gratitude (Valentine’s, Thanksgiving, Advent)
  • Closure & Restart (Graham Cracker 2): Identity & Celebration (St. Patrick, New Year’s, All Saints’ Day)

Your insight about holidays acting like a compass is spot-on. These “s’mores” help us savor the lessons of each season—balancing reflection, action, and celebration—moving us forward on our life’s journey with purpose and joy.

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