As the month of August ends, I am almost always impressed by its beauty. The leaves on the squash plants become a most striking sage and some almost seem like grey. Colors of orange, yellow, purple, white, green, and red, hang off branches and stems. I contend that the stores advertising Christmas in July and August, really have nothing on this space 🙂 God’s gifts are so plentiful! Soon in September, everything in the garden will begin their season of rest. And, yet I must confess I’ll miss it so much, even in the spirit of when they rest, I am granted some rest too.
In the Autumn, something new in me is always waiting to be exposed. A new craft project, the gentle growth of new friendships, deeper discovery of the many wonders of the Bible, more ways to use my knowledge, and most importantly this year…the recreation of me; the person who may not have to rush home after Bible study to complete a paper or run data for research. On the latter…fingers are crossed, and prayers are mighty.
Transitioning of the garden begins next week. I let go.
In preparation, I opened a most beautiful book recently sent to me. I opened it and landed on page 252. There I saw a reminder from God on the importance of slowing down in order to appreciate His wonders. The Autumn season offers so much of this slowing down. It’s really up to us, right?
The Field and the Moment
The shadows of three men sowing watermelons
Grew very long behind them as they crept down the field.
A pair of parrots flying homeward
Shouted noisily to them to look at the sky:
But they continued stooping and dibbling the seed in the earth
In this way they grew a number more melons
And, missed what was written in that particular sunset,
Which had never been written before
And, of course, will never be written again.
-Phillip Britts [1917-1949]
(Farmer, scientist, and poet)
Embrace His moments. Slow down.
And, indeed…
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; … – Ecclesiastes 3:1-22
So, as I move into the cooler months of Autumn, the birds will continue to say good morning, and the squirrels will still hop on the fence. Nothing changes for them. Everything remains, and all is well.
My friends, I’ll see you in September. A sight always so poignant in His splendor.
It is all well, and I am well.
With love,
Charlotte
Source: Another life is possible (2020). Walden, NY: Plough Publishing