Dear Editor,
As the third season of the year, Fall/Harvest time brings incredible, fabulous and magnificent changes. These changes affect our senses with “Aha!” “Wow!” and “Oh My God!” moments. Our sense of vision is moved by the changing appearance of the foliage around us. We are given a spectacular mix of red, gold, orange, reddish-purple, wine-red, brown, sage-green and tan that stimulates our eyes and minds. We embrace the brisk morning wind that touches and chills our faces as we breathe in a refreshing breathe of air that possesses all the wondrous odors of change. The invigorating taste of the products harvested during the fall season simulates our taste buds. For our sense of hearing, the fall season comes alive with the sound of cheers for the fighting Eagles at the Chester County High School Stadium. The roar of the crowds on Friday nights energizes the ears and vocal cords of everyone in attendance. You can hear the roar as far as Steed and Luray intersection.
Is it not amazing how this season, the season of much change and transition, does not affect the inner-man? The season we call fall was once referred to simply as “Harvest” to reflect the time when farmers gathered their crops for winter storage, roughly between August and November. Ecclesiastes 3:2 says, “A time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted.”
“Therefore said He unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few; pray ye, therefore, the Lord of the harvest, that He would send forth labourers into His harvest.” – St. Luke 10:2.
Seeds of self-examination and self-improvement were planted through the Word of God and through authors inspired by God in order to give you the tools you need to soar. So take them and apply them. Sometimes, we believe these passages of scripture apply to others when, in fact, we are a part of the Harvest. Grasp the tools and take the time to work on becoming a better you. It is time to be plucked out and become “labourers.” There are many lives that have been affected, both spiritually and naturally, by the changes in this season. The unpredictability of the changes in this Fall/Harvest season will be great because it requires faith: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” – Hebrews 11:1.
This season has brought many unpredictable occurrences, such as the weather, climate crisis, economical shift, significant physical adaptations, material loss, death, hunger, despair and hopelessness. It also brought a great challenge to many believers: “Can you trust God, when you cannot detect Him with your five senses?” The answer should be yes! Can you trust yourself? The answer should be yes! Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year 5778, and Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement/ Repentance, take place during this Fall/Harvest Season from Sept. 20 – 30. If there are things you need to release, this is the season of new beginnings. Just do it!
Understand, fall is known as the Time of Harvest, so pull out the strength that lies within you, the instinctive mindset to endure and conqueror and, above all, take God on this journey of change with you. “. . . For unto whomsoever much is given, of Him shall be much required; and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.” – St. Luke 12:48. Start plucking and uprooting to become a better you!
Sincerely,
Juanita Clay
