It seems that “after Labor Day” ushers in a whole new season.  Even before Fall officially begins.  In the church world, we call it “the program year” for a reason as the church calendar fills up again with many programs and events.  (Choir Rehearsal tonight at 6:30!  Church Tag Sale on Saturday from 9-2!  Rally Day on Sunday!  Sunday School resumes!  Zoom Bible Study Tuesdays at 10:30!  Many of our Ministries are reorganizing for the Fall!) 

The first day of Fall is the Autumnal Equinox in the Northern Hemisphere, which happens to be September 22 this year.  So although it is not technically fall yet, it doesn’t quite feel like summer anymore either.  It feels like there’s “before Labor Day” and “after Labor Day”, even if the calendar says that there are a few more days of summer still left.  Yes, it can be superficial with not wearing white after Labor Day (Lord, forbid!)  But there’s obviously more to it than that.  I personally find September to be a challenging month because it’s a month full of transitions. 

Professor William Bridges wrote this great book called Transitions: Making Sense of Life’s Changes.  He reflected, “Every transition begins with an ending.  We have to let go of the old thing before we can pick up the new one—not just outwardly, but inwardly, where we keep our connections to people and places that act as definitions of who we are.”* 

Sometimes that is the invitation in a new season. 
Letting go of the old before we can pick up the new. 
Not just outwardly, but inwardly.   
May it be so.

Love,
Pastor Lauren

*William Bridges, Transitions: Making Sense of Life’s Changes, 2nd Edition, pg.11.

Photo by Anne Nygård on Unsplash