October is upon us, with soft hues of golds, persimmons, tans, muted reds, and flamboyant oranges,all mixed in with countless variations of green. Nature is putting on a splendid show, muting the bittersweetness of the oncoming fallow season with a lovely show of color that somehow says this is all in the rightful scheme of things.
I’ve been reading a wonderful book by Parker Palmer entitled “Let Your Life Speak.” The last chapter talks about the seasons as a metaphor for looking at our lives. I’d like to share some of his autumn thoughts with you:
Nature, Palmer says, scatters its abundance in autumn, spreading seeds that will bring new growth in the spring. He speaks of being unaware of that, for the most part. “. . .and yet if I look more deeply, I may see the myriad possibilities being planted to bear fruit in some season yet to come.”
“Autumn constantly reminds me that my daily dyings are necessary precursors to new life. If I try to ‘make’ a life that defies the diminishments of autumn, the life I end up with will be artificial, at best, and utterly colorless, as well. But when I yield to the endless interplay of living and dying, dying and living, the life I am given will be real and colorful, fruitful and whole.”
I promise to be “lighter” next time . . . Actually, the underlying tone of this is “lightness.” We just need to remember to see it, to commit ourselves to the ultimate rightness of seasons, of comings and goings, of joys and sadnesses.
Wishing you peace, whatever the current “season” your journey is taking you through.
Act2Life coaching 