Waiting for God's Time

I have been expecting the leaves to turn and give me a feast for my eyes. Somehow that feast always also refreshes my soul. I get moved by the beauty and think about the vast beauty of the one who creates such a scene. But the leaves started to turn brown and fall without having that riot of color first. So I began to think that the summer was so dry we would not have a beautiful fall this year. Then a couple days ago on my way to school, I saw it. The trees on Pooles Creek Road and on Horse Branch Road were dazzling with color. "God Provides," I thought. It may not be on my time schedule but God provides. Fall is late this year.

I found a lesson in this for discernment. I often want to know God's desire for me and I want to know it NOW. But part of discernment is being faithful in the slow and boring times, in the dry and routine times. To be a good discerner, one must be patient and trust. If we are faithful and continue to look with both seriousness and quiet trust, we will see what God Provides.

Economy

What is this thing that is going on? I wait to hear the stock market report each day as though I can change something by listening. It has been so erratic and usually disappointing. I am trying not to fret about the future of retirement accounts but also to act responsibly. Is this a time to evaluate my lifestyle and live more simply? Is it a time when I should not expect comfort and privilege? I want to be mindful of those who have lost jobs and income. I want to cut back on my consumption of the resources of the earth. I want to be aware of those who will come after me and their needs so that I do not use up what they will need.

I hope I can trust that God will provide, perhaps not what I want but what I really need. God will provide an abundance of grace and courage.

Autumn and Discernment

I am still reflecting on the fleeting beauty of the autumn leaves. Is there a message in those leaves about discernment? What comes to me is that one of the obstacles to hearing God's call is clinging to a past or present experience. Once I determine that the beauty I have experienced in some special moment of my life is the ultimate purpose of my life, I close myself off to the next gift that God offers.

I can think of some exhilarating times of my life, but I know that they were just prelude or preparation for the next thing God gave me. Sometimes the "next thing" was not as attractive (at least initially) but growing into the person God was calling me to be meant letting go of the comfortable for the new.

Today, let's open our hearts and our ears to hear what God has planned for us.

Fall Colors

The leaves are turning and it is beautiful. The air is crisp, well maybe, cold. I am trying to slow down so that I can appreciate the beauty of this season. Is God telling us about beauty? Sometimes when I see the hillsides, I think of how beautiful the creator of all this is. Sometimes I reflect on how fleeting the beauty is. Winter is on the way and the leaves will fall. Is God storing up more beauty and reminding us that this is just a taste and that there is far more beauty in store for us? Today I want to appreciate all the beauty life offers but also to hold it with a light grasp. I want to allow God to give and take and I want to generously share whatever is beautiful in me life.