Oh, October.
How you sneak in and linger, simultaneously reminding me of beauty, release, stubbornness and the fleeting seasons. No sooner have I accepted the rhythm of the academic year and we find ourselves leaving soccer practice in the dark, dreaming up costumes and consuming all manner of allspice.
Personally I agree with Anne of Green Gables; I am “glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.”
And yet, this month evokes so many things in me.
This particular October has been a goldmine of events that remind me of the goodness in humanity (and if there’s anything we could use right now, it may be a goldmine of human goodness): A legacy of service work and a coming home of alumni in our community, only to be reminded of the ripple effect their continued lives of service have had. I had the opportunity to attend an event with my mom over the weekend, that moved me. The day shelter in town is putting on their annual gala this week to support the important work they are doing to meet the needs of those living on the street; Tonight I attend a planning meeting to coordinate a fundraiser to find a cure for a friends’ children’s genetic disease.
On the flip side, a dear priest friend died over the weekend, our neighbor’s health has taken a turn for the worse, and already the snowy forecast this week means we’ll be opening the severe weather shelter this eighth of October, for our neighbors without homes.
It is paradox: Life and death.
Formed as I am in the Benedictine tradition, I am reminded of St. Benedict’s rule to: ‘Keep death before my eyes, daily.’ I haven’t always appreciated this bit of wisdom, but I will admit that it is easier to do this month than many others. We absolutely have a finite time on this Earth, and perhaps we don’t feel comfortable to dwell there for long, and yet what we do with this time has lasting impact.
Whether we find more encouragement in the words of Anne or St. Benedict, would that we be encouraged to make this ‘one wild and precious life,’ illuminating.
Thoughts on harvest time.
In the spirit of harvest time, I’m sharing on the Spirituality of Harvest Time and Letting Go on the Blessed Is She Blog, today:
When I imagined what the topic of harvesting would surface for me, I naively pictured pumpkins, colorful foliage, harvest wheat, and crisp apples. These illustrate the practice that instructs us to un-clench our fists and generously offer back what we have been given. In general, I try to give a nod to the season outside of my window to inform the way I enter a season, spiritually…
Time for Harvest
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