Observing how people respond to the change of seasons is rather interesting. It seems that we all have our favorite seasons, don’t we? Sometimes when we talk about the seasons of our lives it seems we all have different favorite seasons of our own lives as well. The good Lord provides people with certain spiritual and practical gifts and skills so we can have and be helpers through every season. If we are to be honest we need to admit there are certain seasons of our lives where we resist both giving and receiving help and guidance to or from other people. When we observe the life of Jesus, we notice he doesn’t seem to have that problem.

While observing the fall leaves the past few weeks I’ve thought about how intriguing I have always found this season to be. Throughout the years I’ve been fascinated with watching the changing of the colors of this season. I’ve spent some years thinking about the freedom this season gives to the leaves that dance and blow in the breeze and the strength of those that cling to the branches through winters fiercest freeze. How wonderful to have a little of both, freedom to dance with the Spirit and go where it leads and strength to cling to our faith through the bitter, cold days of grief and trouble. This is the gift that Jesus gives to everyone who believes in Him, the ability to dance, the willingness to be led, and the strength to hold fast to our hope of being rooted in Love, God’s Love, by grace, it is so.

Here is a poem I wrote over the past few days of pondering . . . perhaps it will speak to your soul as it did to mine. . .

The Edge of Fall

At the edge of fall-
ing into winter
after summer ends
flowers cease to grow
yet, shades of every color
cover the earth at the edge of fall
as winter edges in
a free falling dance
led by the north wind begins
boughs bend and sway with
leaves clinging on ’til
the voice of the wind
whistles through the skies
whispering to the leaves
let go, let go
dance with me
throughout the land
at the edge of fall
the wind leads
throughout the day and night
whenever the wind blows, leaves dance
wafting onto lawns, hovering over flowers
slipping into baths meant for birds
skipping down streets, skating through alley’s
or curling into curbs and gutters
at the edge of fall
the wind beckons all the leaves
helicopter dance with me
hover over the walkways and fields
of life with me, let me lead you
through the end of fall and winter into spring
summer will burst in again but first
here at the edge of fall all but a few
of the leaves must leave the trees to
fall freely to the earth below
led by the wind they go dancing
twirling in circles, sinking into the waters
floating freely downstream while some
huddle into corners of city streets
still others leave
meandering onto farmers fields
lingering, like birds and geese preparing
for the great migration south
people, whether walking, driving, biking,
flying, going solo or in crowds
gaze in awe, marveling at the colors
of leaves that dance through the edge of fall
and I wonder why? Why do we not see the beauty
in all the seasons of our lives and shades of skin
God has given to humanity?
– June G Paul, (c) October, 2015

Let us pray:

Lord, open our eyes to the see not only the beauty of the seasons of nature, help us to see the beauty in the seasons of our lives. Teach us how to live through them all, led by the Holy Spirit. As you were led Lord Jesus, you overcame temptations to serve yourself and gave your life to become a servant to us all. Help us to serve one another where we are, teach us how to serve and be served, as you did, with grace and humility. We ask this as an offering of thanksgiving, to bring glory to your Name. AMEN