Daily Meditation for January 30, 2026

Recall a time when you were the first person out in the yard after a snowfall. You notice all the tracks in the pristine white snow that show which other creatures have been there before you. There are the narrow lines of bunny trails, widely spaced footfalls of deer, tiny traces of birds’ feet. The human heart can be compared to a fresh snowfall that has tracks imprinted on it. Who has put tracks in your heart? Parents, brothers and sisters contribute early ones. Teachers, critics, rivals and role models are well represented. We see tracks of friends, old and new, and the recent presence of members of your family. It is good to appreciate all those tracks and what they mean. And then, what kinds of tracks are you leaving in other hearts? Are your tracks a sign of good experiences together?

By Mary Jackle, OSB