Autumn Rambles Day 11

An online resource from The Prayer Bench, adapted and used with permission.

Rambling Prompt: Ending or beginning?
This will be our final Inspirational Message from our Autumn Rambles.  We will soon begin our time of Advent devotionals.
Take notice of the cycle of the seasons as you ramble today and look for a sign pointing towards something that has ended and yet hinting at something yet to begin.
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Reflection: Which season do you consider the beginning of the annual seasonal cycle or the first season? Perhaps it is spring when birds build nests to give their chirping babies a home, when the green tips of bulbs breakthrough into the light, when fruit trees are covered in blossom and when the world seems awash with fresh starts and new beginnings?
Autumn on the other hand seems full of endings. The leaves fall from the trees gathering in piles formed by blustery wind, the fruit ripens and the vines wither, the abundance of crops are harvested and the fields are left bare. There’s a sadness in the air, as the golden days falter and the heralding of winter beckons. “It’s over!” The season cries to our senses. We mourn with the finality of the season.
Yet held in Autumn’s hands are the beginnings of a future season. The acorn that falls from the oak tree holds within it a complete map to becoming a huge oak tree itself. The seeds inside a single pumpkin could become next year’s entire crop, wildflowers spread their seeds which lay haphazardly on the ground waiting for warmer days when they can germinate. “It’s beginning! The season whispers to our senses. We wonder if we will have patience to hope beyond this season.
We will soon be entering the season of Advent - is that a new beginning for you, or is it the ending of the year?
The seasons offer us a cycle of beginnings and endings. God calls to us through all the seasons with an invitation of new beginnings any time of the year.
Practice: Prayer!
Hold an acorn or other seed in your hand and use these prayer starters.Adoration and Praise Prayer starter... God of the tiniest seeds to the tallest trees, we offer our adoration and praise to you...
Thanksgiving Prayer starter... God of hope and light, I give you thanks for the stirrings of good, the acorns of hope, happening this week...
Confession Prayer starter... God of acorns and seeds, fresh starts and new beginnings, I pray for a new beginning to be born in myself...
Intercession Prayer starter... God of majestic and abundant love, I pray for those that I know who need the hope of a new beginning .....
Petition and Supplication Prayer starter... God of small things with possibilities, I pray for my own needs and possibilities right now....
As you come to God in prayer at the beginning, or end of this season, remember, that God can make all things new- whatever the season!  I invite you to listen prayerfully on this short refrain from the Ioana Community.
Behold, Behold, I make all things new beginning with you ....
Peace be with you - let's journey again in Advent!
Rev. Gail

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