Fall is Coming (Y’all)

One of the greatest things I get to experience living in New England is the seasons. After living in the perpetual heat of the Texas summer for 17 years, the changing of the seasons is a breath of fresh air. The past few weeks have been hot and muggy, but knowing that in a few short weeks crisp fall air will blow down from the Great White North (I’m not entirely sure if that is how it works, but it sounds nice) makes me savor these muggy summer days. We are also entering a new season as a family. With the quickening of fall, we will be sending our son off to kindergarten in less than three weeks. I never knew my heart could be so tender.

My personality tends always to be forward-looking.

What’s next? What do I need to be doing to prepare for the next season?

Living in a place with actual seasons is slowly (very slowly!) teaching me to slow down and be present to my actual life, not the life I imagine for myself a few weeks, months or years down the road.

Knowing that fall is coming, and with that the start of school, is permitting me to linger outside a bit more with my son in the evening. Outlining my next sermon series or getting to that project around the house can wait. The days are growing shorter. Time keeps passing, marching on. By God’s grace, I am learning to PAUSE and be present to today, because today is all I have.

So, today I invite you to PAUSE. As we begin, take a few deep breaths in and out. In. Out.

Pray. “Holy Spirit, slow me down. My whole person. My body, mind, soul, and strength.”

Read. For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven. (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

Pause.

Reflect. What season of life are you in? Is it a season you are savoring, or one you are simply trying to get through? Talk to God about that.

Pause.

Listen.

Respond. Whatever season of life you may be experiencing, may God’s grace empower you to slow down and be present to all of it. May he enable you to trust that he desires to use this season to make you more and more into a person of love.

Grace and Peace.