The end of summer and the beginning of fall. Changes in the weather and a new school year. Stricter focus at work and a preparation for the holidays. September brings many changes to the cycles of life. But much of the deeper meaning of those changes gets lost in the rhythms of our culture.
This is one way the ecclesiastical calendar can help us. It renews in September so that we can re-focus on God's cycles. The combinations of death and new life set before us at this time of year can bring us deeper understanding of His plan not only for humanity in general, but also for our individual lives as well.
As it is written in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8:
"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to throw away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace."
So whatever you are thinking or worrying about at this time in your life, remember to give yourself over to God by living His rhythms, not yours or the culture's. This will give you far greater peace because you will be living in synergy with God. Rest in His grace. Don't fight it.