I was born and raised in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and have spent all my life living either in the UP or various places in Wisconsin. I have become very familiar with the wonderful season of autumn. In fact, it is one of my favorite seasons with all its wonderful bright colors of orange, red, yellow, burgundy, and rust, playing in harmony against the deep green of pine and cedar. My spirit knows that ah inspiring amazement as the colored leaves play out their artistry day after day.
Autumn also reminds me that that color and all that beauty doesn’t last forever. The leaves give up their green turning into their natural color and finally are set free from their branches to float in the wind to the ground.
Perhaps it is this lesson, the one of letting go, that stirs my heart the most. It is a life lesson that I have experienced many times in my life.
This past January my brother died just a month short of his 89th birthday. He was the oldest of my siblings and my fishing partner. This year was also the death of a dear friend and the 2nd anniversary of the death of a very dear friend is soon coming. Another letting go.
My grand niece got married in October of this year and as I watched her dance that traditional dance with her dad— that father and daughter dance—- I paused in wonderment of time passing and what meaning that dance had for each of them. Another letting go.
Over 3 1/2 years ago I retired from 15 1/2 years of working as a full time hospital chaplain. I still find myself seeking a new understanding of self, purpose, meaning in the letting go process of what was and moving into what will be.
In looking back at those moments of letting go, what gives me hope, strength and insight is knowing that as those leaves depart their branches and dance in the wind finding a new place to be they leave behind the buds of next spring sprouting.
Perhaps I need to remember, to be reminded, that in letting go I open myself to a time of waiting, preparing, readying myself for something new.
I pray for patience.
– Netty Johnson, SSND
Netty, your experience is so real. I found out that it’s a constant question as we continue in our years. God is good!
I appreciate your insight. Life is like reading a book. Letting go is like reading a book…a new chapter comes along when we least expect it. Or we finish that book and start a new book. And sometimes we don’t like that new book so we put it aside and get into a different book.
A wonderful reflection.
Thank you Netty for your reflection. I have learned so much from the seasons. Each has something to teach us. Autumn with the letting go as you had shared can prepare us for the hibernation and the going within of winter. And of course patience is always required 😊
Thank you, I needed to read this today. The natural world has so much to teach us – just read today’s first reading from the Book of Wisdom
As I age I have come to the realization that death is not a single experience. It is a series of small letting go long before the final letting go. Some of the small letting gos include loosing friends and family to death, moving them out of their homes, seeing them loose their health and independence. Some times it is loosing wonderful neighbors or parish friends. Seeing your children or grandchildren struggle with faith, health or relationships gone awry and not being able to fix the situation is a letting go. Even having too much stuff means you need to let go! Not being able to manage all of life’s needs or wants requires letting go. Not being able to attend events requires letting go. And the list goes on and on.
How wonderful that our God fills us with hope and the promise of eternal life with Him! With hope, all is well.
Thank you Netty. Letting go can be (meaning IS) so scary. I need all the help I can get.