With the celebration of Labor Day comes the unofficial end of the summer. Vacations have been taken, kids are back in school, new adventures await on the horizon but it is also a time of reflection. Allow me to reflect on a few things. Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

The Fall Season is one of change, one of harvesting the fruits of our labor, one of slowing down and reflecting on the days gone by. For me the smells of fall bring back many memories, some good and some not so good. I enjoy this season as we prepare for the celebration of the year’s accomplishments. As we look forward to the Holidays. What does your heart remember as you reflect?

I come from a long line of farmers. Fall on a farm is a busy time. As I was riding the other day I took in the smell of fresh silage. The harvest had begun and preparations for the upcoming winter were in full swing. I remember watching the silage pile grow, each load raising it higher. Tractors piled it high, all set to be covered.

As I rode further the smell of concord grapes filled my senses, jam season. I remember the putting up of preserves for the winter. I remember the year we made some of our own. We nurtured some grape vines in our backyard. The smell of the ripening fruit filled the air. My wife made some grape jam, her favorite. The smells in the kitchen brought me back to the time of days gone by, days when the world was so big and opportunities abounded.

Farmers aren’t the only ones who enjoy fall. It is a time for us to look back on what we have been through, relive the victories, and learn from the defeats. We look back over the things we strived to accomplish and evaluate our efforts. We laugh, cry, smile and frown, many emotions rise to the surface as we reflect.

Reflective thoughts bring us back, we think about where we came from and the road traveled to get here. As I thought about all the places and experiences I shared I wondered how much had I learned. I wondered; had I found the secret? Have I found peace? There is a verse in Scripture that came to mind;

Romans 12:2; Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Somewhere we need to find God’s good, pleasing and perfect will. Our attitude needs to be in direct contrast to some observed in others. Our minds not set on Earthly things, but on things above lead us to the things that honor God.

We all need to do a little transformation. We all need to think a little differently. With that in mind I thought we would have a little fun this week. I received an email titled “Reflections from the Seat of My Tractor.” Read them, reflect on them, smile and laugh, it is good for the soul.

“The best sermons are lived, not preached.”

“Life is simpler when you plow around the stump.”

“Keep skunks and bankers at a distance.”

“Forgive your enemies; it messes up their heads.”

“Words that soak into your ears are whispered…….not yelled.”

“If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin’.”

“The biggest troublemaker you’ll probably ever have to deal with, watches you from the mirror every mornin’.”

“A bumble bee is considerably faster than a John Deere tractor.”

“Do not corner something that you know is meaner than you.”

“You cannot unsay a cruel word.”

“Every path has a few puddles.”

“Most of the stuff people worry about, ain’t never gonna happen anyway.”

“Don’t judge folks by their relatives.

“Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.”

“Always drink upstream from the herd.”

“Lettin’ the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier than puttin’ it back in.”

“If you get to thinkin’ you’re a person of some influence, try orderin’ somebody else’s dog around.”

“Good judgment comes from experience, and a lotta that comes from bad judgment.”

“Live a good and honorable life, then when you get older and think back, you’ll enjoy it a second time.”

“Live simply, love generously, care deeply, speak kindly, and leave the rest to God.”

Reflecting on the past is a good way to inspire us in the future. Always remember where we come from, the road we took to get here and the path that leads home. Then we will have a good basis for where we need to go in the future, the path that leads to tomorrow.

Philippians 4:8; NLT; And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

Blessings,

Pastor Don