You have made the moon to mark the seasons; the sun knows its time for setting (Psalm 104:19).
On September 23 at 3:21 CT, we officially begin autumn. In Minnesota where I live, we enter a period with fewer than than 12 hours of sunlight.
For many of us, the shrinking hours of light mean we need to drive to and from work in the dark, and we know it’s harder to get the kids up for school.
For those of us whose daily habits force us to wake early, we must fumble for the light switch to see. I’m not going to lie, I miss every one of those lost minutes of light. Emotionally it’s hard on me.
In the Prayers of the People in church, we pray for everyone affected by the shorter daylight hours. SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) is a reality for many people.
But, here’s the good news. It’s all part of God’s plan. The Psalmist reminds us that the seasons are marked and known by God. So, as we move into the season of less daylight and more moonlight, let’s take time to do two things.
First, let’s stop and thank God for the change of seasons, the rhythm of life. While we’re doing that, let’s remember those who are seriously affected by the shorter days, and pray for the safety of all who drive as the days get shorter and darker, especially the school bus drivers and the children are getting on and off of those buses.
Second, let’s take time to enjoy everything the fall season brings—festivals at church, Halloween, All Saints Day, Thanksgiving, Thankoffering services, football and, of course, the craft boutiques and retreats.
These are all gifts from God, along with the beauty of God’s creation in the changing leaves, the cooler days and the beautiful blue skies. God is good, all the time!
What do you love about the autumn?
Nancy Giddings serves on the churchwide executive board; she lives in Blaine, Minn.
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Photo by Ian Sane, used with permission, altered slightly
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