“Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him." ~ Psalm 62:5
On this brilliant autumn day, I
found myself thinking of spring, imagining warm sunshine that comes to melt ice
and snow. I actually believed it for a
second, imagining flowers that colored my world in vibrant shades of pink and
gold. The turn toward cooler months left
me yearning for lazy summer days and outdoor barbeques that lingered long into
the evening.
Those memories came with a chuckle
... this is autumn, a season with her own special ways of bringing happiness. It’s a time of wool sweaters, warm apple cider,
and vibrant foliage that provide an ideal occasion to recognize our many gifts
and graces.
Autumn affords many reasons to celebrate. It marks the end of the growing season; a time
to reap the harvest, celebrate its bounty, and stock up for the long winter
ahead. It’s a time to finish projects
and let go of what’s unwanted so that winter can be spent relaxing.
When daylight hours shrink, I’m
going to take the occasion to appreciate long nights. They don’t come naturally to me, especially
in this day of artificial light and electronic screens that glare brightly day
and night.
Autumn teaches much about rest and rejuvenation. I will also make some minor changes at home
to extol the virtues of this new season.
Better to light a candle than curse the darkness, I think. Candles soften the mood in ways that
electric lights can’t. I plan to color pictures,
play board games, and make shadow puppets with my family, using those flames as
focal points rather than wishing for more daylight.
As the weather becomes chillier, the air in our house can
get stale. What a perfect opening for filling
the space with spicy scents of apple peels and cinnamon sticks.
Instead of huddling inside as winter approaches, I want to
take more walks outdoors, when possible, to enjoy the quiet hours between night
and day. The earth’s natural cycle allows
our bodies more restful slumber when mimicking the rhythm of the sun.
Spiritually, autumn may be a time of transition for you - with
something ending and something else beginning - everything from a fresh start
to a loss that brings grief and emptiness.
It might also be a time of hidden preparation for something yet to be imagined. Our spiritual Autumn leads us to live in the Spirit
of the Cross - the daily “dying of self” that, as Christians, we are called to.
