The Winds of Change
The Winds of Change
Autumn is one of the boldest seasons of change in nature. In the spectrum of colors on the wheel, reds, oranges and yellows are the most intense. Set against the crisp, deep azure sky and the canvas of alabaster cumulus clouds, or contrasting a completely fuzzy gray, dreary, hazy sky, those crimsons, red-oranges and amber-yellows pop out and say, ‘Do not tarry! Do not tarry! The cold winds of winter are coming over the mountain. The heavy frost is soon upon the ground. Do not tarry! Do not tarry! Bring the harvest in today.’
I find myself in those heady autumn years as many of you are, also. Blessings abound as so many colored leaves. Regrets and looking back are useless, unless to remind us of a better way to live. Remembering what we did for good is only helpful to spur us on to finish strong. The coming rest of old age may seem strangely alluring as we struggle on in the here and now attempting to store up and shore up for retirement. Yet, we can begin to see as we take care of those before us how with the rest will come a largely diminished ability to accomplish the great goals of our youth.
And so, it is with renewed vigor that we glance up at the canopy of leaves over our daily walk and we feel the need to reevaluate, reinvent, rediscover, renew the purposes for which we were sent – to make sure that we finish what we started to the glory of God and to the best of our ability. Not striving. Not simply surviving. But finding it again and finishing it.
Did we change the world? We set out to. Did we blaze a pioneering trail? We meant to. Did we challenge the youth and those who come behind us? We hope so. Are we – have we drifted into complacency about retiring as though already half dead?
Listen to the rustle of the ever-changing leaves,
Listen to the locusts singing, chirping on the breeze,
Look inside your heart of hearts.
Focus on the needs.
And Lord help us laborers
To finish all our deeds.
Amen.
“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary, and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who HOPE IN THE LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:28-31. NIV
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