It has been a while since there has been a story and I’ve been reminded of that by several folks who’ve asked about it. I’m pleased that people read, enjoy and miss them. What follows is a “new” story that came from my son, Peter, who has lived in Montana for almost 30 years. – Joe Reinschmidt
The fullness that fall brings
by Peter Reinschmidt
A familiar, but unexpected noise awoke me around 2 a.m. Apparently the temperature in my house had dropped to 50 degrees and the furnace kicked on. A little early for 25-degree weather even here in Montana! On a side note, there are three wood-burning stoves sitting in my shop, ready for use, but the floor upgrade in the house is taking longer than anticipated, hindered by an innate desire to be outside as much as possible. So the stoves go unused as do the several cords of firewood, neatly stacked – for now.
After rousing myself from the comfort of my sleeping bag (easier to make the bed) and addressing the chilly morning, I begin to rake the leaves that had fallen earlier this year. A carpet of yellow and browns on the lawn, but almost three weeks early! As I raked the leaves into a pile, I was distracted by my dog’s relentless desire for me to throw a ball for him to fetch. I was amazed at what a 60-pound dog can do to a fluffy pile of leaves. Suffice it to say some extra raking was required. Oh, if we all had the joy of a dog!
Beyond my dog’s exuberance, my mind, no, my heart, was taken back home to a time a few decades ago when my family would rake Sugar Maple leaves in the yard onto a faded green bed cover my Grandmother had. We raked the leaves onto it, grabbed the corners and dumped the leaves on the manure pile between the barn and the pigsties. Grandma, a survivor of the depression in Germany and then in the United States, did not waste much. I’m not sure a leaf blower would survive her scrutiny of a leaf left behind!
My thoughts continued to progress, as this is what empaths and old souls do, on how beautiful and healing Fall is. I am biased as it is my favorite time of the year, yet we can all reflect on its beauty, bounty, and parallel to life Fall brings.
The antlers of whitetail bucks have hardened and now glisten in the sunlight, the familiar v-shaped pattern of geese appear, the tree leaves show their splendor, and the fruits and vegetables have reached their ripeness and fullness. It is all the result of a growing season and things have reached their full potential.
Is this not true of our lives? We grow through the Winter when a job loss, health issue, a death, a divorce, or some other event brings a bleak and seemingly unfruitful time for us. Then as we begin to heal, persevere, move forward, Spring occurs. There is new life, pep in our step, a flitting in the heart that says, “I can move on.” The Summer brings more growth and flourishing as we are nourished and realize we can be okay with moving forward from the hurts.
We then find ourselves in the Fall, our own splendor reached, our potential realized, and though a scar, bruise, or imperfection is visible it does not prevent us from reaching fruitfulness and wholeness.
As with the world, we will go through seasons in life that can challenge us to the core and occur more often than we may like, but hope and faith, if held onto and acted on, will lead us to reach that point of fullness that Fall brings – a fullness that reaps the harvest of what and who we are and are capable of doing.
So it appears that nature has called it quits for the year, but remember that it is a preparation for the next harvest season! The splendor and beauty will show itself again and we have it all in us despite what the Winter may throw our way.
We all have gifts, talents, and a purpose to go along with them, so when the leaf pile is scattered, remember it can be raked together again and the fruits of each of us can be harvested despite what has occurred in our past.
