A Meditation at the End of Summer

Friends, it is the last week of summer. I know I am not alone in grieving this passage. While I recognize the appropriateness of a time of rest for growing things, and while I truly enjoy observing the changes and the beauty that fall brings, I just am so sad to say goodbye to another growing season. It is true I still have tomato plants putting on new fruit (I counted more than thirty today!), and the begonias and impatiens are vibrant and glowing; still, the little bit of autumn in the air is a warning that things are slowing down.

Perhaps I can take a lesson from my garden. As Ecclesiastes tells us, there is “a time to plant, and a time to pluck what is planted . . . a time to heal, a time to break down.” You will recall this passage in chapter three and remember that many contrasting ideas are listed. One message here is that, in this world, change is inevitable. We cannot expect life to stay the same forever. “He has made everything beautiful in its time.” 

Some days are good for getting lots of work done. I can clean closets and scrub the shower and re-shelve books. Other days are appropriate for visiting friends and enjoying recreation. In his wisdom, God built times of rest into our lives. The demands of modern life mean that not everyone can stop working on Sunday, but everyone should have a day of rest—and not feel guilty about it. In fact, if we don’t take time to rest and reflect upon God’s goodness, we are in defiance of his plan for us.

Likewise, some parts of life are full of busyness and productivity; other years are meant for a different kind of work. It’s clear from biology that young women are meant to bear children, but older women can—and should—offer help and encouragement to young mothers as well as to career women and even students. Paul’s instructions to Titus include admonitions for older women and men to set a good example of reverence to those coming after them. This is indeed worthy work, as are the more hands-on tasks of earlier years. 

So I work on embracing the coming cold and darkness outside just as I look at making time for rest and restoration for my body and spirit. I will enjoy every day of sunshine and each tender blossom while I can, but I will also harvest the basil and pull up spent tomato vines when the time comes, knowing that “there is a time for every purpose under heaven.”

 

--Sherry Poff