Photo by Amy Howard
The season of fall is upon us.
The change is not easy to see here in northeast Florida. A small drop in temperature. A large drop in humidity. Some trees losing their leaves. Some leaves changing color. It is the end of sea turtle season, and we hope the end of hurricane season.
While nature changes seasons, I am reminded of seasons in our own, human lives. The book of Ecclesiastes lists several, beginning with “A right time for birth and another for death” (The Message Bible). Obviously, this can mean a physical birth or death. But let’s explore it more.
New birth in creation can come as a new ‘shoot’ on a plant or tree. It can manifest in the birth of an animal. New life in our human seasons might come from a new opportunity, a new pet, a newer vehicle, a new neighbor or friend. As we grow into a new stage in our life, such things bring new awareness of good possibilities.
In caring for Creation, we see that new life thrives from the death of old things. Flowers die and seeds fall, skins shed and fire clears the underbrush. “A right time for birth and another for death.”
As members of that same Creation, new life requires our own pruning. A right time for a death might mean giving up something that is holding us back, something we know we should part with, but are reluctant to do so.
Watching leaves fall might help us see what is stifling us. Maybe it’s a relationship that drags us down. Maybe it’s too much of something—YouTube, social media. Maybe some boundaries are being neglected. There are so many negative things going on around us. We must learn and take action and remember these are not helping us to care for ourselves.
As we add things and let go of things in our lives, the end goal is for each of us to be more whole. But first, we must become aware of the positive and negative pulls in our life. Then after much thought, address them. Maybe not all at once, but over time.
As the seasons around us change, so should our outlook. Our care of ourselves and creation can grow, change and bring joy to our souls.
Blessings,
Mother Sandy