Song For Autumn

Autumn is associated with vivid fire-toned colours and hands hard at harvest. It’s a time to pick fruit, hunt for game and gather grain. It’s a time to process and preserve produce. Even before the era of agriculture, people used this season to ensure a food cache in anticipation of the cold and barren winter. Today, autumn is more likely to find folks foraging for facts rather than food, buying gluten free grain online and selecting tofu rather than game. But, these sacred ancient rhythms remain deeply embedded in our being.

As the leaves start to fall, I find my energy begins to rise. The lethargy of summer’s harrowing heat breaks; cooler crisp air stirs the spirit, soothing the soul. Even today, on the very first official day of Autumn, while sitting under a tree sipping coffee at a conscious cafe, the ancient patterns of autumn live on, and as the autumn leaves fall softly on my head, I experience an unexpected upwelling – to be ready – to take full advantage – to herald a harvest as an ambassador of Grace.

All year long, you and I have been planting seeds – intentions for a new outcome, ideas forming in our minds, growing in our hearts. The changing of the season is a nudge to say “it’s time”. Now is the time to pick up the sickle and start bringing in the harvest. Cut cut. Cut cut.  

Does is all seem too tough? Harvest season wasn’t ever intended to be an individual endeavour, but a communal one, and like me, you’re likely to sense a greater desire to reach out to others. Take heed of this stirring. We may have strayed too far from tribe and fire. Pick up your phone. Schedule that meeting. Open your laptop. Send that e-mail. Open your front door. Step outside. Set up a collaborative working space. Start that course, write your memoirs, open that café, register that NPO, plant that church, establish a Local House of Prayer, invite you know who out on that date, or whatever it is you’ve been meaning to.

You’ve been born for such a time as this. Fear and faith will collide, but faith will always cause you to rise. Rise. Rise.

Use the vibrant toned splendour of the season to gather all you can – faith, hope, love – into the very heart of your life; create storehouses of success, silos of satisfaction, and barns full of creativity, connection and communion that will warm and sustain you in the long cold months to come. Let your life be robust, rich, rewarding, fun, faithful and full. Full. Full. Full to overflowing.

“Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.” John 4:35 NIV

Dear God,

As I choose to keep my eyes on you, I’m reminded that I’m forever restored and renewed in Your love. In all seasons. In all situations. Anything that endeavours to hurt or hinder me shall find itself falling to the ground like autumn leaves. As I rest in your completed work may I bring in the harvest of all the good things that you have laid up for me. May I be found embracing a new season fuelled by the Holy Spirit’s fire. Bright. Bold. Brave. Beautiful.

Amen

What is the significance of Autumn for you?

What do feel lead to harvest in this season?

What fresh seeds will you be planting for the next season?