Autumn Gatherings and God's Blessings

Autumn is by far my favorite season. As I sit in the sunroom, looking out onto the maple trees, my eyes catch the bright orange, gold and red of the leaves. On the ground lay these leaves already turned brown, that crackle beneath my feet when I shuffle through them. The colors in the light of the setting sun always remind me of a collection of Dutch artists’ paintings I saw years ago in the National Gallery of Art. The colors in the paintings were subdued as if waiting for some serious event to take place. My senses are filled with the gifts of colors and sounds that God has set just the other side of my windows.

Autumn is the time when a warm cup of cocoa beckons me when the dogs and I come in from a chilly evening walk. The dogs make their ways to the den to curl up in the warmth and comfort of their beds.  The fall season is the time of year when I feel inspired to cook lots of soups and make a loaf of my Aunt Janet’s recipe of whole wheat bread. I look in my pantry see the bounty of summer’s canned vegetables lined up on the shelves. As I work in the kitchen, filled with the wonderful aromas of simmering soups and baking bread, I have a sense of comfort such as that when we celebrate the gifts God has provided us.

Most autumns, nature reminds me that it is preparing for a time of sleep and rest, only to burst forth in glorious colors and smells the following spring. It is the time of year when God seems so slow everything down a bit as we move ever closer towards the end of another year.  The trees shed their beautiful colored leaves, the last of the garden tomatoes struggle to turn red on the vine. Even the fish in my koi pond slow down as they eat less, move a bit slower and descend towards the lower levels of the pond. The squirrels, however, are scurrying about carrying walnuts and storing them in various places in our yard and gardens. They stow their precious treasures to meet their winter needs, though much to my dismay, they seem to forget where the nuts have been buried.

Autumn even sounds different to me. The crickets are long gone, no frogs can be heard croaking out near the pond and fewer birds seem to be calling into the night. I always miss the night sounds when I fall asleep at night as autumn descends over our part of Mother Earth as this season reminds the plants and animals in our midst that it is time to rest.

I doubt I would so enjoy the gifts of autumn were I not in such a comfortable place in life. I don’t know that I would enjoy the colors and sounds of the season if my mind was filled with the dread of not having a warm place to sleep, enough food for my family, warm clothes for the approaching winter cold and a way to continue to provide for those things everyday necessities. I believe I would find autumn a season of impending dread, increased hardship and worry as I tried to prepare for the frosty months ahead rather than the season that delights my senses and gives me pause to slow down and reflect on all the goodness in my life.

I have just finished writing the check which will fulfill my financial pledge to the Cathedral for this year. I am reminded that it is through God’s gifts to me that I am able to be a steward of the church. My gifts, along with yours, will help house and feed those men who will be guests at Christ Church through the Room in the Inn program. Our efforts will provide a night’s safe warm rest and a few good comforting meals to some of those of Christ’s flock who find themselves homeless and alone. Our participation in Church Under the Bridge will enable us to feed men, women and children, old and young, with a hearty lunch, fellowship and an opportunity to hear and share God’s holy word. The Pyramid Professionals will continue to share their wisdom and expertise as they help others develop skills and be appropriately ready to apply for work and take steps toward having their own of security. Community Cupboard will continue to provide food to those in financial distress so that they may put meals on tables to feed themselves and their families.

I see all the activity here at Christ Church as we prepare for the Community Cupboard Saturdays, for Room in the Inn and for Church Under the Bridge. I see the good work of the Church as we strive to help provide for those in our community who are not as fortunate as are we. I recognize that through our good stewardship, we are putting into action those words of Jesus that call us to love our neighbors as ourselves. And as I sit here in the warmth of the sunlight coming through the window, I know that just as nature prepares to rest for the winter, we share the harvests of our lives to enrich the lives of others around us.


 - The Rev. Paula Ott