Journeying to Grace

A walk through almost any neighborhood now will show the beautiful colors of the trees actively changing, welcoming the new season. I’ve noticed more than a few trees in my area that look like they are still ‘deciding.’ Though many shades of vibrant golds and reds are clearly visible, there is some green still hanging on. That image stayed with me and offered me a place for prayer as I encountered some strong emotions caused by ‘still hanging on.’

I attended a recent gathering that was both joyful and hurtful. The joyful part was an extraordinary gift. The hurtful part quickly reminded me of what I’m still hanging on to: The upsetting memory of what someone has said and done and the overall disregard for those who have been impacted. Unsure of where to begin in acknowledging and processing these heavy emotions, I found consolation in today’s reading: “…the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” (Gal 5:22-23) Certainly in these attributes of grace and comfort, we can find a place of strength and calm when we encounter both joyful and hurtful memories and moments.

We are familiar with the themes of these fruits in general, which is a very good place to start. For even more insight, I encourage you to look into each of them more deeply. Their definitions in the context of the Spirit are so very rich, and they offered me greater awareness as to how the Holy Spirit can work in me, lift me, and show me how to truly care for others and myself. The Holy Spirit gives us these fruits which, lived through a life in Christ, produce good. We cannot control if others do not invite them into their hearts. But as we make room and allow the Spirit to dwell within us through these abundant fruits, perhaps we can let go and no longer hang on to the wounds that try so hard to deplete us.

Let us welcome a new season of good and grace through living the fruits of the Spirit. And like the green leaves destined to soon change, let’s also allow those hurts we are still hanging on to, to fall away. For in their place, something new and good will sprout at the right time.