I LOVE autumn - a previous post from 2012 says it all:
"Autumn has arrived in Virginia. The leaves are turning
heads with their golden, brassy redhead shows; urbanites have decorated
their steps with a myriad of pumpkins and gourds; and the industrious
squirrels are running the fences and highwires with their cheeks stuffed
with acorns. There's a comfort in Autumn that extends beyond our
sweaters and boots. The heady carefree days of summer holidays gives way
to familiar routines and faces and we settle back into belonging.
Equality arrives as we hide under oversized woolens and eat stews with
Octoberfest beer and pumpkin lattes.
At
this time of year the natural landscape creeps indoors and pulls up a
chair. Our design and culinary palettes become infused with muted orange
fillings and golden crusts with bursts of purple to remind us of His
royal presence. This season is less Hallmark and more His Mark. For me,
Autumn is the season when God shows off the most. Though to be fair the
still-life of winter, the resurrection of spring and the glory of
summer, are all pretty spectacular too, but I digress.
At
the start of a new year (come on, we all know the year starts in
September!) nature begins with turning, falling, harvesting and dying.
The sunflowers that pointed the way to the Son now bend their heads in
reverent submission. What once provided shade and shadow leaves us
exposed to the elements. The land surrenders its precious crops as we
shore up our storehouses for the barren months. And the chrysanthemums
give us one last hoorah before disappearing into the deep blue silence
of winter.
I wonder if this changing landscape can provide pointers for reflection on our inner landscape as the new year begins?
As the leaves fall .....
Like
Adam and Eve in Eden, what have we kept hidden under leaves of control,
pride, arrogance, striving, people-pleasing or fabulousness that we are
ashamed off? What liberty would come if those leaves fell and we were
metaphorically naked before God and man?
As the Harvest is gathered ....
What
did we sow our time, energy and resources into earlier this year that
is now ready to reap? Which relationships have borne great fruit and
which yielded a poor harvest because they weren't in the right light?
As the flowers die ....
Which
promises and dreams must retreat to hibernation, and which issues is it
time to let fall to the ground and die? How do we still see beauty in
barrenness and hope in bare twigs? Can we believe for spring?
So,
when the dappled light of the low Autumn sun beckons us outside to kick
the leaves and feel the cooler breeze, let's truly let the outer
landscape inside."
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