Merriam Webster defines autumn as the season between summer and winter comprising in the northern hemisphere usually the months of September, October, and November or as reckoned astronomically extending from the September equinox to the December solstice. This may be accurate, but it is not particularly lovely. This may be correct, but it is not particularly inspiring. As I think about autumn, I wonder how often we miss other opportunities to express ourselves with more emotion, more clarity, and more life!. I wonder how often I miss opportunities to share more fully with others?
When opportunities present themselves to share my Christian faith do I sound clinical, like a dictionary or do I take the effort to truly express what being a Christian means to me? Do I claim, “I am a follower of Christ.” or do I proclaim, “I am a person who believes in God’s grace in my life! I know that grace can’t be earned or lost through my actions! I know I am loved! Out of that abundance of love I serve others!”? I’m afraid I often find myself using the former answer. And I wonder why? Have you ever found yourself in that position? I am going to work on better expressing my faith this autumn and want to encourage you to do the same.
Instead of a Merriam Webster type definition, what if learn to share in this way, as poet Ted Loder shares in Guerillas of Grace:
O Extravagant God,
in this ripening, red-tinged autumn,
waken in me a sense of joy
in just being alive,
joy for nothing in general
except everything in particular;
joy in sun and rain
mating with earth to birth a harvest;
joy in soft light
through shyly disrobing trees;
joy in the acolyte moon
setting halos around processing clouds;
joy in the beating of a thousand wings
mysteriously knowing which way is warm;
joy in wagging tails and kids’ smiles
and in this spunky old city;
joy in the taste of bread and wine,
the smell of dawn,
a touch,
a song,
a presence;
joy in having what I cannot live without-
other people to hold and cry and laugh with;
joy in love,
in you;
and that all at first and last
is grace.