autumn people

[originally written for the church newsletter]

I was on the road to St. Paul the other day when the back seat—or, rather, its occupant—exclaimed at the sight of a large flock of birds off in the distance.  I made one of those “that’s-very-nice-but-I-can’t-look-right-now” comments one makes while driving, which prompted a more detailed description of the sight off to our right.  “It looks like God is sprinkling pepper over there!”

The more I think about this, the more I like the notion that God would be sprinkling seasoning upon the Earth.  We are called to be salt to the world.  Why not pepper, too?  After all, we could usually use some additional zest.

While I realize that much of the adult population eventually shifts to the grown-up notion that the year begins on January 1, I am one of those people for whom September will always mark the start of the annual cycle of seasons.  When I think about it long enough, though, I start to suspect that perhaps the academic year has things right on a deeper level than teacher assignments and fresh school supplies.

As Christians, we start in the fall, don’t we?  We start with the recognition that the world is not perfect.  In fact, it’s yellowed and frayed in places—and yet, that imperfection is necessary in order to have a harvest.  The days may turn to winter and the dreary gray takes hold, but we know there is a deeper promise in store—an assurance of spring.  And spring is, in the end, dependent upon the decay of the previous season.  Healthy plants require seeds. 

I hope I’m not taking this too far, but the point I’m driving at is that this might a great time of year for us all to start again, taking stock of God’s promise of renewal.  How do we live out God’s promises?  How do we serve as God’s seasoning in the world?  Some of you are going back into schools, or sending your children or grandchildren.  How can you equip yourselves and them to be God’s salt (and pepper)?  Others among you may have less direct ties to the classroom, but you enjoy the same Resurrection awareness and the opportunity to sprinkle the world around you.

For each of us this will look different.  As Paul reminds us in the book of Romans, we are a body composed of many members.  I pray for renewed discernment for each of us as we continue to work toward recognition of our roles and responsibilities, to each other and to the wider community.  Some of us are crystal saltshakers; others are pepper pouring from a ceramic travel souvenir.  Each of us has something important to contribute.  Now is the perfect time to begin.