October 2009
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Never Stop Growing
“I press on toward the goal.” (Php 3:14)
Fall may well be my favorite time of the year and October my favorite month of Fall. I used to say it was absolutely my favorite time of the year but by this point in my life I’m beginning to know and face the nuances of the seasons in deeper and more significant ways. I love the fall but I also have some deep seated struggles facing the season of Fall. As the leaves turn from green to red, yellow, purple, orange, and every shade in between I find the prospect challenging and inviting.
Three of the things I like the most about the season of Fall are the changing of the leaves, the clear cool crisp days and the changing of the seasons. First, the beautiful and majestic coloring of the leaves is a “magic” to me. Living in the woods I get to see the magic unfold every day. I know what the scientific reasons for the leaves changing are but I don’t like to focus on them. To think of the science of it steals some of the magical beauty of it all for me. So, I just enjoy the magic of the leaves transforming into so many beautiful colors. Secondly, I also like the Fall because it is a reminder that life is always about change. Seasons come and go, events come and go, people come and go, ultimately we will come and go. All of life is about change, that’s a fact of life. One more thing I like about the Fall is the weather. There is very little more energizing to me than a cool, crisp, Fall day. I truly love the perfect balance between “cool” and “warm” on a crisp Fall day.
But Fall is not all joy. Among the things I have come to not like about Fall are the leaves falling. Living in the woods I get to see the pain unfold every day. Having to rake and mow, and gather and transport tons and tons of leaves is a lot of hard work and with the days growing shorter I have less and less time to get it done. I dread the Fall because I have to deal with the piles and piles and piles and piles of leaves that fall and have to be cleaned up. It almost makes me break out in hives just thinking about it. A second problem I have with Fall that didn’t bother me when I was younger but as I grow older and enter the Fall of my own life span is that I too will grow old and die. Fall reminds me that winter is ahead. While winter has its own beauty when Fall comes I can’t help but look ahead and see the cold and the gray skies and the snow and the cold biting rain lies ahead. Pondering my own mortality is an important but challenging process. Fall is a constant reminder of my own life passing before my very eyes. One last reason that I have mixed feelings about Fall is the very change I cherished and pursued so much when I was younger. Now, all that change is more challenging and difficult. Change isn’t always good, change isn’t a God to be worshipped at all costs. So the change I love is sometimes the change I dread.
Yes, the nuances of the season of Fall are challenging. But, they are also inviting to us as we think of things like change, growing older, facing the winter of our life and dealing with all the work and effort of life itself. Yet, all in all these very challenges are invitations. I hope we all enjoy the season of Fall and continue to grow in our love of the Lord and one another and of the church we love so much.
Blessings upon you and yours,
Dr. Bob