My father was born in September 1902 and died September 1981. He was a very religious and gentle man. He loved poetry and often wrote some of his own. When I started college in September of 1962, I found a poem written by him placed in my wallet. It spoke of his love and pride of me. Recently, in September 2021, the person who was the love of my life died.
September is a month I often dislike. But it is the time of harvest, new beginnings in school, a time we celebrate laborers, a time we wait for changing new colors of our hills and trees. It is a month of mixed messages. Actually September, in Latin, means seven (septem). It was the seventh month in the Roman (Julian) calendar. The current Gregorian calendar kept it as the ninth month. Time and dates are actually “man-made.” Nature shows us a calendar of her own.
At the time of Christ, the growth of plants and the harvest were used to tell the dates. It was when wine was made, dates and olives harvested, vegetables collected and stored for the lean months ahead. In the Jewish tradition September was the time of Rosh Hashanah - the Jewish New Year - which marks the start of the ten days of repentance leading to Yom Kipper, the time of prayer and reconciliation. It marks the time of spiritual development for the people of God.
Actually September is a month leading all of us to new life, to balance, to change, to new cycles and prayer, it is the bridge between the summer warmth and winter cold. It is the month that holds the Autumn Equinox when day and night are balanced and equal. It prepares us to let go of old habits and develop new thoughts and gives us a new spiritual direction.
September is the poetry of our life; the time we wait for the incarnation of the Spirit of God to enter our lives. It is the time we begin to wait for the “Christ-mass” and new beginnings. It is life renewed and life taken from earth.
For me September is a difficult time. But, it is a reminder of what is to come. I pray that you can join me in the spirit of new beginnings and recognize the spiritual poetry of love that September and God brings!
Janet Schwengber pastors UCC Congregational Church, Walton
