WEEKLY REFLECTION I September 27, 2026 – Proper 21A

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

I’m writing this to you on the first day of fall! It’s a grey, cool, misty day. What my Celtic family called “a soft day”. The kind of day experienced specially in early autumn, when we (some of us, that is) are ready for relief from summer’s long heat-and-humidity. A beautiful day for having some hot spiced tea and putting on a sweater for your walk. And for collecting the fat, gorgeously-colored mums that arrived from the annual St. Barnabas sale. Red, orange, yellow, purple, white, with healthy, strong, green leaves.

When I pulled into the gas station to fill my tank, I saw on the ground some ginkgo leaves. How rare!!! Did you know that the ginkgo tree is one of the most ancient species of tree that grows in the northeast? It is the last living species of a family that died out almost 300 million years ago. But here it is still here, thriving. What a determined plant!

All of this brought to mind the reading from Ecclesiastes 3 that Dan Cardinale’s family
chose for his funeral.

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;

I suppose on the first day of fall, it makes sense to think of the seasons as they change year after year. And because it is the Equinox, when there is an equal night and day, I think of balance. I ask myself, “Where is the balance in my life?” “How do I balance my time and energy: family, friends, work, rest, fun, and God?” “Are changes needed? If so, how?”

Perhaps you can find some time to ask yourself the same questions as we begin the season of harvests.

Prayers for all of you!
Mo. Laura+