What Season is It?

Nothing deeply theological today due to the past busy week in my own life. But with all the things going on in our world and country it seems we do not know where to turn for a glimpse of the season.

We just passed Halloween and I have to say I am always surprised at the way this little holiday of candy grabbing has grown into a holiday to rival Easter and Christmas, commercially at least. I drove by many homes decorated with stuff as much as one would expect at the Christmas season. Need I mention that which we have all seen, Christmas trees and decorations up already. I swear I saw one Christmas tree decorated in hanging pumpkin lights!

In the midst of all this is the political season. It seems like we have been in this season forever but it comes to a quick close this week---hopefully. It seems crazy to flip channels during a commercial break and manage to catch the same commercial airing on the next channel! Other than the actual programming of a network, commercial time seems to be indistinguishable from one channel to the next. How are we supposed to get a break from that to clear our head?

Sunday marked another important day in the church calendar as well. It is referred to as All Saints Day. It is a day for us to reflect on the lives of members of the community who have died in the past year. There are no big speeches for each person, just a moment to remember them by the reading of a name and a time of silence. Sometimes a bell rings after the name is read. It is an interesting feeling of letting go of that person. As the peal of the bell subsides we are able to recall fondly or sadly the loss of the loved one we held dear while being supported by the spirit of those around us. It can be a moving experience.

It in some effects kicks off a month where we move inexorably closer to Thanksgiving. A time that can be filled with preparation for a wonderful feast. A time which celebrates bounty and harvest. A time meant to celebrate the importance of community. It can also be a time of painful memory for indigenous peoples of North America who saw their way of life being subsumed by the new immigrants to this country. Perhaps the resonance of that memory widens in this time when things are changing and in which we see our own way of life being challenged and stretched beyond our own comfort zones.

Regardless of these calendar seasons, we can take time to rejoice in the many blessings we have received in the past year as we begin this month of November. We can take time to reflect on what we have lost in the process as well, remembering that we have a God that can turn mourning in dancing and create abundance from our own perceived scarcity. What an amazing month November is after all!

I invite you to stop by for a cup of coffee or tea this month to just reflect together about God's moving through and in our lives in this amazing season filled with abundant grace.