October is a mixed month, with some warm and sunny days recalling summer, and also some cold and dreary
days foreshadowing the winter to come. It’s a time to gather and harvest all of the good things that summer had
to offer. We take time to enjoy those last beautiful days, and maybe even practice some sunshine activities like
bike riding, kayaking, picnicking, etc. We take time to prepare as well. The cold days remind us that winter is
coming and there is much to do to be ready. We prepare our homes, with putting away hoses so they don’t crack,
turning off the water outside so it doesn’t freeze, putting away all the summer furniture and decorations so they
don’t get damaged, checking the furnace to make sure it’s working properly, etc. We also prepare our yards, pulling
out the dead flowers and vegetable plants, and maybe even planting some bulbs to enjoy in the Spring. The last of
the produce is plucked and some is eaten, some is given away, while some is frozen or canned for later.
The same is true in our faith life. There will be times that are good, sunny and warm, when we experience an
abundance, and faith, hope, joy, and love are easy. But we also know that in this life there will be times that are not so good, cold and dreary, when life becomes difficult. We need to make sure we prepare for those times, so that
faith, hope, joy, and love still carry us through even in our darkest days. We do that through being close to God. We
read the Bible and internalize it, allowing the Word of God to speak into our hearts and minds. The words will come to us and give us encouragement and guidance when faced with days that feel like winter. We pray, cultivating a deep relationship with God, who reveals himself through prayer, the Scriptures, worship, and in our everyday moments if we will listen. We participate in community together, with other believers who will give support and accountability; a faith family filled with God’s love. We do ministry together, giving us meaning and purpose, touching not only God’s heart, but our own hearts and the hearts of others. We give to God and others out of gratitude for the abundance God has already given to us. We are blessed to be a blessing, and God provides even more blessings, in ways that are unexpected. When times are cold and dark it’s as if God says, sunny days are coming, but in the meantime, here’s my sweater. Come warm yourself by my fire, did you see the beautiful leaves on my trees? There are some pumpkins to pick, some apple cider to drink, and donuts to enjoy. This is a season, like all seasons, to enjoy, prepare, and give.
Shalom,
Pastor Sherry
Leave a Reply