Brothers and sisters,
November is a unique time of the year—in my opinion. It’s a month that so often gets overshadowed by its neighbors. October dominates the beginning of fall with fairs and football and, of course, Halloween. December then dominates the end of the year with, obviously, Christ-mas taking up a tremendous amount of our attention before ceding some ground to New Year’s Eve. November does have Thanksgiving, but if you put Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas in a popularity contest—I couldn’t tell you who’d win first, but I could tell you who’d win third.
That being said, November offers this interesting opportunity for us all to rest. It feels almost like taking a deep breath. The mischief and mayhem of Halloween has passed. The joyful busyness of Christmas has yet to set in. And in between those two is this month where the temperatures begin to drop more consistently, the sun goes down earlier, and we’re all encouraged to begin settling in for a cozy, comfy winter. I like the change of pace November offers.
A couple of Illuminators ago, I argued that part of the reason we were putting on something like the Fall Festival was because God exists in a state of joy and celebration. I believe that. But I also believe that God recognizes the limitations we human beings have. We cannot constantly celebrate. We cannot constantly go from party to party. Nor can we constantly go from mission to mission to mission. Instead, we have to take time to rest, to be with the people who fill us up, to do the things that give us life. There’s scripture to back that.
Remember that in Mark’s gospel, Jesus sent his disciples out two by two in order to spread the good news of the gospel. He gave them authority that they might heal the people they met. After that ministry came to an end, the disciples gathered around Jesus and began to tell them all about what they’d done. Jesus, hearing it all, says this to the disciples, “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest awhile” (Mark 6:31). Jesus recognized that the disciples needed a moment to catch their breath, to recharge their batteries. They needed time to just be together.
So, this November, do the things that bring you life. Meet up with the people that fill you up. Take some time to rest and enjoy this time of the year. The temperatures will be pleasant. The leaves will be beautiful. The football will be good. And in all of it, give thanks to God.
Grace and peace,
Pastor Ben