to hold on to it until Spring! What fun it is to see the leaves drift or
cascade down and behold the beautiful colors of fall. Every year I remind
myself to cherish these few weeks, for winter is coming!
Sometimes the cares of this life seem to flurry down around us until we
are left in a heap of leaves and the trees are bare. We feel naked and
exposed. Vulnerable. By the end of the month that's the way it will look
around Sycamore. There always seems to be a weekend of raw, stiff wind
and rain to take down the rest of the leaves.
God reminds us that unless a grain of wheat falls onto the earth and dies
to itself, it is fruitless. It looks dead, but inside there is great
potential. So it is with us. Autumn is a time of culmination....the last
fruits of the garden and the bounty of the farm crops rally our souls in
one last burst of blessing before the winter quiet.
We who know the cycles of life, of springtime and harvest, rest assured
that new life will come again. In the Midwest we burrow into our houses
as the temperatures drop and the snow begins to fly. Sports move indoors
and lawnmowers will be stored.
I've heard some people say they love the fall and others dread it, knowing
it signals the advent of winter. Growing up on a farm, fall was my very
favorite season, for I loved helping to unload the golden ears of corn.
Back then it was harvested in ears, not shelled by the combine. My folks
would be excited to see what the yield was for all their months of hard
work. The hogs enjoyed first green stalks of corn and at harvest a few
ears. It was a busy, wonderful, happy time I will always cherish. Yes,
there were years when the harvest dragged out until Thanksgiving or
beyond, the stalks grew tough and challenged the machines, but it was such
a warm time of year for our family.
Pastor Rob suggested in his sermon last week that all we will have when we
reach the other shore is what we remember and who we are. He shared a
story about two iced tea spoons he keeps as a special family memory, but
he doesn't really need to hold onto the spoons because he has the memory
of fond times when they were used with the family he loves. So it is with
our lives. When we feel naked and exposed and vulnerable for any reason,
we can dig into our memories and warm our hearts with those fond places,
those gorgeous fall colors, those golden ears of grain, those seeds hidden
quietly in the earth until the warm sunshine returns. And God will meet
us there, for God is the creator of all things good, the giver of our
memories, and the lover of our souls.
Blessed Fall – Blessed Harvest – Blessed Day lived in Christ Jesus, our Lord.
Carla Vanatta, Associate in Ministry
Salem Lutheran Church
Salem Reminders:
Salem Work Day is this Saturday from 9-Noon; come with a few rags and a
little energy to wash windows, clean pews, or pick up around the yard.
Panda Express will share 20% of the cost of your food with Salem Food
Pantry this Monday, Oct. 10th but you need to bring the flyer with from
the bulletin this weekend. In the same way, Panera Bread will share 20%
for the Feed 'Em Soup ministry next Friday, Oct. 14th. See the flyer in
the bulletin as well, and give thanks to God when you have enough to eat
and enough to share with others who don't.
Salem Cherub Choir has 6 adorable young 1st grade girls this year but no
Kindergartners or 4-year-olds! Pray that God will urge a few more little
ones to discover the fun in singing for the Lord!
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