September 2026

Last week I noticed the tell-tale signs of fall approaching.  There was a chill in the morning air.  A few yellow leaves fluttered down from the trees.  The sun rose after I did and set as I finished dinner.  Amidst the chaos of back-to-school schedules and activities, I took a moment to savor these signs.  The changing season is both familiar and novel.  It takes me by surprise even as I relish it’s comforting sameness every year.  “How did we get here again already?” I wonder.

As the season changes, I’m invited to change with it. The cooler weather will require a warmer wardrobe.  The waning daylight will impact my schedule as I shift activities to sunlit hours.  The falling leaves will eventually need raking into piles for composting.  Noticing the signs is not enough.  There is also work to be done.  For everything there is a season, Ecclesiastes reminds us, and a time for every activity under the sun.  The cycle of the seasons is also the cycle of our life and work.

I invite you to join me in reflecting on your own shifting seasons.  Take time to savor the signs, and also to prepare for whatever this season may require.  Use the questions below to guide your reflections:

·      How would you describe this season in your life?  What signs are you noticing?

·      What are the challenges this season brings?  What are the opportunities?

·      What do you need to prepare yourself for this season?

·      Where is God at work in this season?  How might you be invited to join in?