A New Fruitful Season
Table Talk
Setting the Table
You are welcome here. Come just as you are, bringing whatever is on your heart today. Take a few moments and allow yourself to just be. Take a couple deep breaths, grab yourself a cup of coffee, light a candle, do something that brings you comfort. Allow yourself to be present in this moment.
Consider how the changing seasons can reflect the changing seasons of our lives.
"It is in the roots, not the branches, that a tree’s greatest strength lies."
- Matshona Dhliwayo
Matthew 24:32
From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near.
Psalm 37:23
The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighted in his way.
Food for Thought
As I approached my car for the early morning commute to work, I found myself regretting not grabbing a sweater. Although the temperature was said to rise to 76º by the end of the workday, it was clear that summer was in its final stages. On my drive, I thought briefly about having to transfer the annual plants from my balcony, the bags of fall and winter clothes tucked away in my closet, and the discomfort of the in-between temperatures of the season – too early for the heat to come on in my high-rise building.
Without realizing it, I was already preparing myself to accommodate a change I knew was coming whether I wanted it to or not.
Most of us have favorite seasons. Some hate the heat of summer and love fall. Others despise the cold of winter but rejoice in spring temperatures. Whatever season matters most to you, a common denominator is that we recognize the signs of change. In Jesus’s time, the fig tree showing its leaves was a sign that summer was coming. For kids today, it may be the reopening of pools around Memorial Day. For me, it’s the longer days of sunlight, and seeing certain fruits I love returning to the supermarkets.
Sometimes, new seasons are beyond environmental. They involve moving to a new city or getting a different job – retirement, empty nests, and second careers. Sometimes they’re about downsizing, fulfilling dreams, or adding a companion to your life. Unexpected death, violence, and illness can also play a significant role in the seasons of our lives, and it is during these times we understand that just recognizing a seasonal change isn’t enough to get through it. To live, survive, and thrive in new seasons, you must intentionally adapt to the changes they require.
A person can deny the signs of an approaching winter all they want, but in certain parts of our beautiful country, not giving up flip flops outdoors could equate to frostbite. Without properly adapting and preparing, seasonal changes can be very costly. The same is true for the seasons of our lives. How we adapt to these changing seasons often reveals the values and fears that have been deeply embedded in our patterns of decision-making and experience. Am I afraid to move, too proud to accept help, stuck in past hurts or defeats? Am I too comfortable, selfish, or just willfully obstinate? Will I believe that I can do this big thing God has called me to? Can I really make a difference?
Something that has kept me grounded and adaptable, no matter what season I find myself in, is my belief that God is ordering my steps. In the people I meet, the jobs I’ve had, in places and circumstances, I can see God’s hand at work. I believe that my steps are purposeful, and with each step, God is with me. No matter how difficult things may be, this knowledge keeps me rooted in faith, belief, and hope.
Faith that God knows us individually, belief that God walks with us in each of our seasons, and the hope that God cares about everything that concerns us – this is all a part of being rooted for me – like a strong, healthy tree. Yes, branches can fall off trees in strong storms, and each fall the leaves may depart, but other branches will grow, and winter eventually comes to an end. As one season makes way for the next, intentionally embracing and adapting to what the new season may bring can allow you to not only survive, but to thrive – making room for a new fruitful season to bloom.
When colder weather starts creeping in, most of us adapt to the change by opting for warmer clothing – jumping back into the comforting rituals of chunky sweaters and fluffy coats. This winter, perhaps broaden that ritual by offering that same comfort to someone else. What better time to give away or collect old coats, sweaters, etc. to help someone in need.
Analyze the seasons of change you find yourself in right now – are you adapting in areas where you already know you must in order to live, survive, and thrive?
For a printable version of today's reflection Click Here!
Blessing
God of All Seasons,
May we not only be aware of the changing seasons, but may we not be afraid to adapt so that we can live, survive, and thrive in a new way that brings you glory. Let faith in your promises root us during all our seasons of change so we can bear fruit that nourishes our soul, and allows the souls of others to be full.
A little Table Talk for your table...
What is your favorite season and why? What do you do to prepare for it?
Share an experience about a seasonal change in your life that you didn’t feel prepared for. What was a lesson that you have carried with you from that moment?
How can we be more intentional about preparing for the changes of life’s seasons, and how can we be there for others as they experience their own seasonal changes?
Try taking it to the Kids Table...
Discuss the seasons of the year. Which is your child’s favorite? Why do they like that season in particular?
Sit down together and make a list of the ways you can intentionally prepare for the upcoming seasons – put those tasks on a calendar and mark the tasks completed with stickers or a check when you’ve accomplished them.
Turn winter preparation into a fun way for kids to also be involved with the community, too – how can you bless those in need with warm clothing?
Meet Our Welcoming Voice!
Jacki-Lynn Baynks is a veteran of the US Army. She is an educator, author, and licensed and ordained minister. She is also passionate about creating successful after-school partnerships between urban churches and public schools to keep at-risk kids off the streets and Black churches involved in education. A proud mother of two adult children and a happy grandmother of six, she currently lives near Philadelphia and is employed at Temple University. A lover of books, her community engagement includes tutoring adults and children in reading, and serving on the board of a local non-profit dedicated to helping families deal with ADHD.
To hear more from Jacki-Lynn throughout the week, follow along on our Instagram!
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