Spiritual Lessons from the Season of Autumn

He made the moon to mark the seasons, and the sun knows when to go down…
​How many are your works, Lord! In wisdom you made them all…
Psalm 104:19, 24 (NIV)

The days and months and seasons are quickly passing by, and this is quite evident as we have now made the transition from summer to autumn. For the most part, the autumn season brings with it a series of mixed emotions. For some, this season is a time of great beauty and splendor, while for others, this season is dreary and gloomy. The warm days of summer are fading. Flowers and much of the foliage is dying. Trees will become stark, gray silhouettes against overcast and mist-laden skies. And of course, cold weather soon will be approaching. Although autumn ushers in a time of great change, we have to remember that God ordained such changes in the seasons for a particular purpose.
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The autumn season reminds us of many things and teaches us many lessons. First of all, we learn from the season of autumn that everyone and everything needs a time of rest. As witnessed in the changes that occur during the fall, we see that the earth, in some respects, transitions into a period of rest. Fields lie bare. Some forms of wildlife go into hibernation. Autumn reminds us of the need for a sabbath day of rest – a time of rest to feed the spiritual part of our lives; a time of rest to observe nature and the world around us; a time of rest to give thought to the aspects of life that are truly important.

Secondly, autumn is a time of preparation. Just as autumn beckons us to gather in the produce of the fields in preparation for the days of winter soon to come, autumn speaks to us of the need to make spiritual or soulful preparations in our lives. Autumn would lead us to ask ourselves, “Are we ready for the winter of life?” Do we have adequate spiritual provisions laid in store that will support us when the cold winds of life blow and the world starts reeling around us? When the “winter” of life strikes, will we be ready?

Finally, autumn teaches us to enjoy the beauty of each day. No two autumn days are exactly alike. The sky will be much different tomorrow than it was today. Even the leaves on the trees will all be different as colors change overnight and some fall to the ground. So, each autumn day is a fresh invitation to enjoy the beauty of that day that God gives to us. But we need to remember this, not just in autumn, but every day of the year. Every day has its own particular blessings and aspects of beauty to be enjoyed and appreciated with a spirit of gratitude.
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And so, as we commence this glorious autumn season, may we take time to learn and reflect upon the spiritual lessons and wisdom autumn has to offer. And may we take time to express gratitude to the Creator for autumn splendor.

May God continue to bless us all!


With love and prayers,
Rev. Christopher Phil Daniel
Vicar, Jerusalem Mar Thoma Church, CT