The other day, I learned the neatest thing. My sister-in-law told me that she gave her brother an olive tree in Italy as a gift. At various times of the year, he receives olive oil from his tree. I never thought about actually owning a tree.

Now for a bit of trivia . . . The oldest tree in the world was recently announced by the Rocky Mountain Tree-Ring Research Group, a 5,062-year-old Bristlecone Pine which is in the White Mountains of California.

People who know me know that I am obsessed with trees. I love them. I write about them. I draw them. I memorialize them in tile. I plant them and I grow them. In return, trees give me great comfort. My childhood memories of sitting under the protection of a tree have sustained me for years.

The Lebanese poet, Kahlil Gibran wrote these words:

Trees are poems the earth writes upon the sky, We fell them down and turn them into paper,
That we may record our emptiness.

The Scripture tells the story of Deborah, the prophetess, and how she sat under a palm tree between Rama and Bethel in mount Ephraim. The children of Israel came to her there for her wise settlement of all their disputes. The tree was known as the palm tree of Deborah. (From Judges 4)

When all forms of comfort fail for me, I turn in some way to a tree. Sometimes I just browse the Internet for pictures of trees. Sometimes I sit quietly beside the tree that shelters my front porch. Often, I simply start drawing leaves. And eventually, I feel whole and very grounded.

Perhaps that’s what a tree reminds me of . . . not only the beauty of the foliage on the outside, but what happens on the inside. Deep roots push down into the ground giving the tree the strength to withstand the winds. It’s just what I need for myself, groundedness and deep roots to sustain me.

I am grateful for trees.

“Where is God, Mommy?”

The five year old really wanted to know. Her mother answered, “God is in heaven, honey?”

It wasn’t really a childlike question. We all sometimes ask, “Where is God? Where is God when I feel alone? Where is God when I am depressed? Where is God when I am sick? Where is God when I am afraid? Where is God when I feel like I have lost everything?”

If we can believe the Bible, we will find many scriptures that tell us God is near, and that is very good news. Consider the following passages.

Psalm 34:18
The LORD is near to the brokenhearted And saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Psalm 73:28
But as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, That I may tell of all Your works.

Psalm 145:18
The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth.

Hebrews 10:22
Let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

James 4:8
Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.

When I served as Minister of Worship at New Millennium Church in Little Rock, the congregation sang this beloved hymn often, and many commented on how meaningful it was.

In  lightning flash across the sky His mighty pow’r I see,
And I know if He can reign on high, His light can shine on me.

I’ve seen it in the lightning, heard it in the thunder, And felt it in the rain;
My Lord is near me all the time, My Lord is near me all the time.

When refreshing showers cool the earth and sweep across the sea,
Then His rainbow shines within my heart, His nearness comforts me.

I’ve seen it in the lightning, heard it in the thunder, And felt it in the rain;
My Lord is near me all the time, My Lord is near me all the time.

My Lord Is Near Me All The Time
Words and Music: Barbara Fowler Gaultney

Hear this hymn sung by Terry Warren on YouTube.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?autoplay=1&v=XLZYv7l5ILo

September 11, 2001 — September 11, 2015

In my distress I called to the Lord;
I cried to my God for help.
From his temple he heard my voice;
my cry came before him, into his ears.

Psalm 18:6 |

Just a day before the 14th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, many people captured stunning photos of a rainbow coming from the World Trade Center.

It’s almost impossible to see a rainbow and not to remember God’s promise:

I set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, I will remember my covenant which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh.

(Genesis 9:13-15 Revised Standard Version)

And so we hope that the rainbow coming from the World Trade Center also means that God will never again allow such destruction to harm our land. Perhaps that is stretching the meaning of Scripture, but the rainbow in New York at least causes us to remember a day we should never forget — September 11, 2001.

Today, we remember. We saw it on our televisions. We were watching when it happened 14 years ago. Our lives changed in that moment. Our world changed in that moment.

On September 11, 2001, at 8:45 a.m. on a clear Tuesday morning, an American Airlines Boeing 767 crashed into the north tower of the World Trade Center in New York City. The impact left a gaping hole near the 80th floor of the 110-story skyscraper, instantly killing hundreds of people and trapping hundreds more in higher floors.

And then we have the sweet story of Bretagne (pronounced “Brittany”). In human years, Bretagne is more than 100 years old — but she acted like an exuberant puppy at a Sweet 16 birthday bash thrown in her honor in New York City.

Bretagne is the last known surviving search dog who worked at Ground Zero after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. This year, as Bretagne’s 16th birthday approached, New Yorkers decided to come together and do something unforgettable for her.

It’s all about coming together. That’s what is most important.

So today, we remember not only the horror, but also the coming together of a people, Americans vowing that we would never forget, that we would always remember. Remembering can be healthy for us. It can create in us a strength of character that enables us to stand together as one people, under God, indivisible.

As we watch the shallow antics of the current presidential campaigning, may we remember what is really important.

Today, we remember.

Sometimes I want to ride on the wings of the wind. Sometimes I am astonished at the beauty of the earth, at the God who created all things. I could write about my awe of a mauve-colored sunset like the one I saw a few evenings ago. I could write about the vibrant green of the lush ferns on my porch. I could write about the refreshing, cool rain we enjoyed two nights ago.

I could write dozens of words describing such beauty, or I could defer to the eloquent words of the Psalmist that are as true today as they were the day they were written. I am struck most by the words “he rides on the wings of the wind.”

Bless the Lord, O my soul!
O Lord my God, you are very great!
You are clothed with splendor and majesty,
covering yourself with light as with a garment,
stretching out the heavens like a tent.

He lays the beams of his chambers on the waters;
he makes the clouds his chariot;
he rides on the wings of the wind . . .

He set the earth on its foundations,
so that it should never be moved.
You covered it with the deep as with a garment;
the waters stood above the mountains.

The mountains rose, the valleys sank down
to the place that you appointed for them.

You make springs gush forth in the valleys;
they flow between the hills;
they give drink to every beast of the field . . .

Beside them the birds of the heavens dwell;
they sing among the branches.
From your lofty abode you water the mountains;
the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work.

He made the moon to mark the seasons;
the sun knows its time for setting.
You make darkness, and it is night,
when all the beasts of the forest creep about.

From Psalm 104 English Standard Version (English Standard Version)

Today, I hope you enjoy the beauty around you and know the feeling of riding on the wings of the wind.
Please enjoy the timeless hymn “For the Beauty of the Earth” by John Rutter on YouTube:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PaMkj4_H8WM&autoplay=1

Yesterday I was referred to Piedmont Kidney Transplant Center in Atlanta to be evaluated for a kidney transplant. I have only one emotion about this: fear.

I am feeling good right now. Dialysis is going well and keeping me healthy and stable. But my doctor says that my quality of life will be better and that I will live longer with a transplant. The trouble is that before the quality and length of life part actually occurs, there is surgery, recovery, weakness, recuperation and dozens of anti-rejection medications. That frightens me.

Change is always difficult. Taking risks is difficult. Any surgery is a risk. So I am fearful. I keep hearing in my mind a Bible verse I learned as a child, “What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee.” But even so, I am afraid.

This is a long process. The evaluation will take months, and the waiting time for an available kidney could very well go into years. I don’t really think it will be good for me to start now being afraid of what might happen in months or years. We are given the gift of our lives in this present moment with no promises for any tomorrows. I want to be content today, not afraid.

I think the only way to go through this process is by trusting God and resting on God’s plans for giving me a future and a hope. Fear is a poor option for me, for any of us who are facing significant change. It can be a change in health, in financial condition, in relationships. Fear is inevitable, but it is a poor option indeed.

Instead of relentless fear about something that might happen in the future, we should practice present mindfulness. Mindfulness is the intentional, accepting and non-judgmental focus of one’s attention on the emotions, thoughts and sensations occurring in the present. When we are mindful, we show up for our lives; we don’t miss them in being distracted or in wishing for things to be different. We don’t dwell on what might happen in the future.

Fear of the future is a poor option. Showing up for your present life, being in the moment, is the best option.

For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.            (Isaiah 41:13)

Sometimes we feel helpless when lIfe hands out a difficulty that zaps all our strength. That kind of experience is inevitable, and each of us deals with it differently.

There are those who give in and give up and leave life’s path behind. Others pick themselves up, dust themselves off, and move forward. Some people fight back with every ounce of strength they can muster and refuse to go down. Life will bring us those hard times. Each of us will choose whether we can continue on life’s pathway or forsake the path and quit..

Alone, we simply cannot make it through on our worst days. But people who trust in God are not alone. People who trust in God keep on keeping on when other people want to give up. People who trust in God are persistent and determined to survive.

The Bible instructs us to see our current problem as a temporary one. If you are facing difficult times right now, lean on this passage from 2 Corinthians 4:

This is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are quite small and won’t last very long, but they will produce for us an immeasurably great glory that will last forever! So we don’t look at the trouble we can see right now; rather, we look forward to what we have not yet seen. For the troubles we see will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NLT)

Sometimes the strength within you is not a fiery flame for all to see. It is just a tiny spark that whispers ever so softly, “You got this. Keep going.” (Abuse No More)

The richest Arab nations are refusing to take in Syrian refugees. Persian Gulf countries such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Kuwait have pledged or donated hundreds of millions of dollars, but won’t resettle those fleeing the Syrian civil war that has been raging for more than four years.

Nearly half of Syria’s pre-war population of more than 20 million people have been displaced within Syria or have fled the country, according to the United Nations.

“The bottom line is that in terms of resettlement, the Gulf states have not stepped up in accepting refugees,” said Geoffrey Mock, the Syria specialist for Amnesty International USA. “They have offered zero resettlement places … and this is shameful.”

It is an international tragedy about which we can do nothing. We think of those 20 million people displaced by war and we imagine, accurately, that among them are innocent children. UNICEF estimates that there are 7.5 million children affected by the brutal four-year-old conflict in Syria. Children have been put at risk by unrelenting violence, crumbling infrastructure, ruined schools and hospitals and shortages of essential supplies.

Refugee camps in the countries bordering Syria are overflowing. There are now 2 million child refugees who have fled Syria. That’s more than the combined under-18 populations of Los Angeles and Boston.

What does God expect from us when so many are languishing? I believe he expects our awareness, our earnest prayer and our voices that are not afraid to speak out against wrong. God, give us a prophetic voice.
God, give us a prophetic voice that speaks of harm and pain;
A voice that claims injustice wrong, that calls the hurt by name.

God, give us a courageous voice that speaks against all wrong;
A voice that sees when harm is done, that sings oppression’s song.

God, give us now compassion’s voice that we might offer peace;
A voice that comforts through the night, that bids the darkness cease.

God, help us find our voice again when silence words erase,
When evil overtakes the words of righteousness and grace.

Hymn by Kathy Manis Findley, 2013

Forty-six years ago today I married the man who was my destiny. Most people said in the beginning that it was a very unlikely match. Even Fred thought for a while that our relationship would consist of only a date or two. But as silly as it might seem, God spoke to me clearly saying that Fred was the right mate for me.

My college roommates laughed at me. Fred’s friends made bets that he could not even pull off the first date. But by the end of the first date, I knew he was the one. On the second date, I told him that God told me we would get married.

Miraculously, he didn’t turn and run. He just took my bold statement calmly, saying that God had told him no such thing.

It appears that God knew what was best for us. Last night we stayed up past midnight and wished each other a happy anniversary. I was sitting on the side of the bed; he sitting on the other side. I said “It really was for better or worse, wasn’t it?” He asked what was the worse part. And I said, “Well, I’m sitting here looking at this dialysis machine. I guess that’s the worse.”

But then I said it could be much worse, and that we are so fortunate to have a treatment that works. When I was very ill for all of 2014, Fred cared for me tirelessly, every minute of every day. It seems to me that there is no greater love than that.

God was right about us, and we have been very happy all these years. Through the calm and through the storm, we have been happy. People always ask what is the secret for a long and happy marriage. Honestly, I am not sure of the answer, but I have an idea it’s two things: 1. God ordained it as our destiny; and 2. we both made a commitment to one another before God that the commitment would be lifelong.

 . . . always giving thanks to God the Father for each other
in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
(Ephesians 5:20 NET)

One of the shortest verses in the scripture is one of the most meaningful. “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” (Exodus 14:14 New International Version)

Being still is one of the hardest things for me to do. As long as I’m doing something relatively active, I am content. If I’m reading or writing, I am okay. But being still is a challenge, a necessary challenge.

The Bible says, “Be still and know that I am God.” When I am still in God’s presence, it is then that I draw closer to God. It is during those still times that I am able to express to God my innermost thoughts. Not only does stillness enable me to know God. It is also the time when God more fully knows me.

Being still is hard, but it’s one of the spiritual disciplines we need to practice every time we can.

For God alone my soul waits in silence,
for my hope is from him.
He only is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress; I shall not be shaken.

(Psalm 62:5-6 Revised Standard Version)

Listen to the beloved hymn “Be Still, My Soul” on YouTube at this link;

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=p92fMgMt_Zw&autoplay=1

One of my most cherished moments happened several years ago as I was walking the labyrinth at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco. The walk was a spiritual exercise for me, very contemplative and introspective. I walked it as a life journey that takes turns you never expect and yet gets to the center and back out again. It was quite an experience.

A sacred Labyrinth Walk, called Illuminating the Inner Path, is the ancient practice of “Circling to the Center” by walking the labyrinth. The rediscovery of this self alignment tool to put our lives in perspective is one of the most important spiritual movements of our day. Labyrinths have been in use for over 4000 years. Their basic design is fundamental to nature and many cultures and religious traditions. Whatever one’s religion, walking the labyrinth clears the mind and gives insight. It calms people in the throes of life’s transitions.

Life is about transformation, growth, expanding possibilities and discovery. Life is a sacred journey of your continuous vision. Life is about seeing clearly and deeply, learning, facing challenges and stretching your soul.

For many decades labyrinths have been used as a meditation and prayer tool that represent a spiritual journey to our center and back into the world again. We can walk the labyrinth as a metaphor for our life’s journey.

Many people become confused as to what the difference is between a labyrinth and a maze. A maze is similar to a puzzle which needs to be solved, due to the many turns, twists and blind alleys. One requires logic in order to find their way in and out of a maze. A labyrinth has only one path. The way into the labyrinth is the way out. There are no blind alleys, and the path leads you on a circuitous path to the center of the labyrinth and back out again.

When entering a labyrinth there is no right or wrong way to enter – all you need do is enter and follow the path. A labyrinth walk can encompass several attitudes. One can be prayerful, thoughtful, introspective or joyous. They key is to be mindful of the moment and mindful of your life while walking the labyrinth. Envision your life’s goal, walk with thoughts of your destiny and see what you learn. Pay attention to your inner emotions and the intuitive part of yourself.

The following labyrinths are in Macon:
Rose Park Labyrinth (always open to the public)
Mulberry Street United Methodist Church (always open)
Riverside United Methodist Church (call for information)
St. Andrew’s Montessori School (call for information)

The photo I have included is a beautiful lavender labyrinth at Kastellaun, Germany.

I like to think of God sometimes as a sudden God, a God who appears before us when we most need a healing touch, a God of brilliant light who illuminates our darkness. God is not hesitant. God is not slow. God is sudden. And suddenly, we are experiencing newness of life.

It’s what we need the most as we travel on this earthly journey. Newness of life when we feel abandoned. Newness of life when we feel alone. Newness of life when we feel that we have lost everything of worth.

This sudden God hears our cries from our life wilderness, touches us gently, and sees our trouble. We are human. We hold on to wounds. We carry burdens. But always, we wait for the sudden God.

And we find that God through prayer. Whether we pray with our own words or pray the prayers others have written, it takes just seconds to utter a simple prayer. But its influence on our hearts is permanent. Rabbi Naomi Levy says, “A moment on our lips is a lifetime on our souls.” A simple prayer can change every part of us. It can heal us and give us new life. It can open our lives to a sudden God who is with us instantly.

Yes, at times we find that we must wait for God patiently. But at other times God is a sudden God, a God who surprises us with his immediate presence,

O Thou sudden God, generous in mercy, quickener of new life, giver of new love, we place our trust in you. For you have touched us gently and seen our trouble.

You have woven our pain into patterns of hope.

The wounds we held on to, you have turned into new life.

The burdens we carried, you have turned into new beginnings.

To you, God of great mercy . . . To you, God of amazing love . . .

We give thanks. For you have touched us gently, and we have lived again.

There are many blessings that God wants to give us. One of the most cherished of those blessings is peace. God knows that our lives are filled with troubles and disappointments. God knows we have obstacles that hinder us and rough spots on our journey. But God also proclaims that we can have peace that is greater than all our understanding.

God tells us the obvious, “In this world you will have trouble.”

That part, we know all too well. But God doesn’t stop there. God also says, “Take heart! I have overcome the world.”

That’s good news for us. It’s news we need to hear, especially if we are suffering trials in our lives. Thanks to God for letting us know!

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33 NIV

1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
3 Surely he will save you
from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5 You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.

Psalm 91 (New International Version)

I am one who has at times feared the terror of the night. I was able to handle the daytime, but at night all of my troubles closed in on me. It began when I was a small child. Everyone was asleep; all was quiet. The lights were out and there were no sounds but silence and my labored breathing. The doctor called it asthma. I knew it was fear.

I also knew that sometime in the night, my father would come into my bedroom and abuse me. So I knew exactly where the night terrors were coming from.

I survived those horrible years, and left home as soon as I could. But I know there was a divine protector watching over me during that time, one who detested the abuse of a child. It is so true that under God’s wings, I found refuge, and the day did come when I no longer feared the terror of the night. Psalm 91 became a great comfort to me in those days, and it remains so. Today, I “rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” I am grateful for God’s grace and protection. It has sustained me through many dangers, toils and snares.

You may enjoy hearing the song, “On Eagle’s Wings” sung by Josh Groban on YouTube.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?autoplay=1&v=FrLafWZxczI

As I lie in bed, I remember you; all night long I think of you,
because you have always been my help.
In the shadow of your wings I sing for joy.
I cling to you, and your hand keeps me safe.
– From Psalm 63

Yesterday was a sleepy day. It always frightens me when I start sleeping a lot, because that’s what I did before I became ill. So yesterday, I mostly slept all day, and when I was awake, I worried that something was going wrong with me. The worry reminded me of the dark hours when I was so sick, the many months when I was too weak to care for myself.

There is one big difference between now and then. Now I am in a place of being able to fully trust in God to be present with me. Those dark months convinced me of the constant, comforting presence of God. In that, my months of illness were a blessing that brought me closer to God, who was with me constantly. I love the words of Madeleine L’Engle.

“I need a God who is with us always, everywhere, in the deepest depths as well as the highest heights. It is when things go wrong, when good things do not happen, when our prayers seem to have been lost, that God is most present. We do not need the sheltering wings when things go smoothly. We are closest to God in the darkness, stumbling along blindly.”

I experienced God’s sheltering wings during the dark days of dealing with kidney failure. Whatever I face going forward, I will rest in God’s care and find peace beneath God’s sheltering wings.

I felt very rested last night. I think I am fine, in spite of my sleepy day. Perhaps the extra hours of sleep were a gift to me from a God who cares for me and my health.

You may enjoy listening to Lydia Stanley singing “Shadow of Your Wings.”
https://m.youtube.com/watch?autoplay=1&v=6lp_gE9UN8U

In his journal, Henri-Frederic Amiel wrote this: “Life is short and we never have enough time for the hearts of those who travel the way with us. O, be swift to love! Make haste to be kind.”

Life’s journey can be strewn with difficulty. We have our hands full navigating our own journey, so being present for another sojourner is sometimes out of the question. The benefit of taking the time to offer solace to another person is that we take the intense focus off of our own obstacles. It’s actually very healthy for us to give our attention to someone else.

On top of that, it is the Christian thing to do. “Do not be interested only in your own life, but be interested in the lives of others.” (Philippians 2:4 New Century Version NCV)

A dear acquaintance of mine just lost her mother after a long and very difficult illness. Remarkably, she is spending time visiting someone else’s mother in a nursing home. She certainly has more than enough heartache to deal with right now, but she is sharing in another person’s life. She is offering love and kindness, although she desperately needs love and kindness herself.

It is good for each of us to remember that life is short, but we must be near to the hearts of those who travel with us, offering hope to those who need love and kindness so desperately.

“Be swift to love. Make haste to be kind.” And you will be showered with love and kindness when you need it the most.

Life’s journey can be a treacherous one. There is no easy walk to the places we want to go. There is no way to make the journey easier. It is what it is, filled with both happiness and heartache. As so many have said, tomorrow is uncertain, yesterday is gone, all we have is today.

The following words of Bishop Steven Charleston bring life’s journey into perspective.
Today is the acceptable year of your hope, today is the gift of grace given to you. It is now, here, in this moment that you will discover what you have sought for so long. Heaven does not arise in distant realms far removed from your reality: its doorway stands before you. These hours are poured into your hands like a treasure, they will not come again. Embrace the peace that passes between your dawn and the sunset waiting patiently on the horizon. Make this day count. Make it sing. Make it be the dream you first found in night’s companion hours.

Bishop Charleston is right that today is the gift of grace given to us. He is right to advise us to embrace the moment we have before us. He is right when he says “make this day count; make it sing.”

What will you do today to make this day count? What kind of melody will you hear when your day begins to sing?

I pray that you will accept this present day as a gift of grace from a loving God, poured into your hands like treasure. May peace pass between your dawn and your sunset, bringing you fresh hope for the journey.

These days, I find beauty in everything. It is as if my eyes have been opened and I see things more clearly. Simple things attract my eye and take on fresh, new meaning. I think this is the result of coming so close to death.

One very ordinary place I have found beauty is in a common dandelion. It is a thing so graceful in the wind, and yet when the wind blows hard, the dandelion loses itself, scattering into hundreds of tiny feather-like seeds.

The real miracle is that each seed holds the possibility of taking root and being reborn all over again.

I am not embarrassed that I have come to revere and appreciate such a seemingly insignificant part of nature. In the past, I have blown dozens of dandelions without a single thought. Today, I cannot even see one without marveling at where it’s seeds might go.

June Stover says that “Dandelions, like all things in nature are beautiful when you take the time to pay attention to them.” She is so right. The dandelion is yet another miraculous creation of our creative God. Perhaps God put dandelions on the earth so that thousands of children can blow them and make wishes. Perhaps they are here to remind us to have a sense of wonder in where the wind might take us.

I don’t really know a dandelion’s eternal purpose, but now I do know it’s beauty and gracefulness in the breeze. I might just make a wish the next time I see one. And I hope that my wishes will be light on the wind and plant themselves everywhere, reborn as dreams on the wind.

Thank you, God, for dandelions.

Even when we’re surrounded by a harsh and heartbreaking world and our own challenges both within and without, we reach for the roots of our faith. And we find just enough faith to pick ourselves up and move forward. So many times we find ourselves struggling to grasp for hope. Against all odds we journey ahead as expressed in Bishop Steven Charleston’s reflection below. We face the tragic silence before us with hope enough to share our song of faith. It’s melody is found in our acts of compassion and works of justice.

You were born to believe. Even if there have been times when you tried to let go of faith, accepting doubts or disappointments as reason to suspend your dreams, you never were able to release that last spark of light within you. It is you. You were born to believe. Against the odds, despite the culture, through the hard work of hope, you have not only kept the faith but given it away. You sing the silence to song. You trust the love around you. You make justice grow. You were born to do this. It is your birthright. It is your calling. It is the part of time entrusted to your care.

– Bishop Steven Charleston

I have found this to be truth. I have, on occasion, sung silence to song, breaking my silent world into one filled with joyful singing to God. It is the way of faith. It is the soul’s melody of praise. And it is a grace-gift for those whose hope has become small. So when times get rough for me, I’ll be singing silence to song.

Each season has its own graces . . . the strong sunlight of summer, the scorching temperatures, the pesky Georgia gnats. In the winter, the breezes are brisk and the sun doesn’t bring its warmth on many days. The spring is new and fresh, with a slight chill in the air, along with the sunlight and showers that bring new buds and young bird families.

But the autumn is chock full of grace . . . cool breezes, leaves changing to brilliant colors, skies clear and blue like the poem says . . . “October’s bright blue weather.”

We’re not to the leaf-changing time yet, but the summer gnats are gone from my face, eyes and ears.

Of all the seasons, autumn has for me the most pleasant graces.

It’s the beginning of football season, after all, and that can’t be a bad thing.

Autumn brings another phenomenon . . . a living room.covered up with fake leaves, grapevine, pumpkins, florist wire, glue guns and lots of stuff. And from that mess emerges brilliant wreaths, table arrangements and all manner of home decor.

My sister-in-law’s house where we are currently crafting is a disaster area. Even her dog, Crosby, gets into the creative corridor, eating every grapevine piece he can find, as well as the artificial berries that inadvertently fall to the floor.

Yes, Autumn has its fair share of seasonal graces. Preparing our homes to celebrate the fall is one of those graces. Last year at this time, I was not healthy enough to enjoy this season. I am so grateful to God that this year I feel like being knee-deep in fake leaves and pumpkins. We must never forget to be grateful for the small things in life.