Play this video of maple leaves falling*. Notice your internal response; maybe an emotion, a memory or an image come to you. Receive it and let it have room to stretch and breathe. What conversation may be had between yourself and God? Play it again.

Leaf by leaf this maple tree sheds it's leaves. Deciduous trees turn colors in the fall as the nutrients in the leaves are absorbed into the trunk and roots to be stored and used during the winter months.

For the quotes, poetry, scripture and reflection below apply the same approach.

Gift and Loss

Every year is costly,
As you know well. Nothing
Is given that is not
Taken, and nothing taken
That was not first a gift.

From Sabbaths VI, Wendell Berry

Reflection

"When we let go of our desire to be clever or successful or to create beautiful things, we may begin to be open to the sacred truth of our experience as it is, not how we want it to be. "(The Artist''s Rule, Christine Valters Paintner)

What there is to celebrate without and within, vigorous colour, crisp air, vibrant relationships and the beauty of care I celebrate.

What there is that is passing,that is right and timely, I let go.

Reading

Jesus called out with a loud voice, ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit' Luke 23:46

Prayer

Lord, You have always given
strength for the coming day;
and though I am weak,
today I believe.

From Evening Prayer, Northumbria Community

Question

In the rise and fall of this day what is coming? What is going?

* Refresh/reload the page to return to the maple tree image. Cover photo of autumnal trees by Ales Krives,unsplash.com