DIY WildWood, October 11
We will not gather in-person today, October 11.
DIY WildWood originated during those months of Zoom gatherings as an opportunity to encounter the Holy wherever you are. I offer some things for your consideration and reflection. As with most things with WildWood, there are no expectation take what you need.
ONE GOOD WIND James A. Pearson It's October so, yes, the world is dying but I always think I have another month at least, maybe two, to marvel in the middle of fall's kaleidoscope, walking this fractal trance of kindergarten yellows and (somehow!) iridescent pinks. But then one good wind comes in off the distant Pacific and trees that just yesterday dripped with dazzle stand skeletized, stripped of their abundance for the promiseless months to come. I guess what I'm trying to say is: Don't save up your praise. Luxuriate fully in what you love because the winds come quickly and the winter is long.
Driving through downtown Olympia this week the trees are incredible. The red leaves glow with sunlight and create a stained glass kaleidoscope of color.
Earlier this week left the beauty of the autumn trees to travel to Napa, CA for the Annual Meeting of the Evergreen Region of the American Baptists. I’ve never been to Napa before and it’s a really beautiful landscape. Different and beautiful. The sky is big and the hills (mountains?) roll with fields and vineyards. Last night as the sun set the sky glowed gold, reflecting off the fields and hillsides. The rows and rows of grape vines are turning from green to gold to brown. Where Olympia is rich with red and green, Napa is gold dotted with green. Later this weekend I’ll head to Yosemite National Park, another climate and environment, another autumnal color scheme. I’m trying not to save up my praise and luxuriate fully in the landscapes of autumn. Or, put another way in the words of the incomparable Daniel Tiger, “enjoy the wow that’s happening now!”
All the while I’m also holding onto the annual lessons of the leaves as so beautifully expressed in Lucille Clifton’s poem, The Lesson of the Falling Leaves.
THE LESSON OF THE FALLING LEAVES Lucille Clifton the leaves believe such letting go is love such love is faith such faith is grace such grace is god i agree with the leaves
It is because I revel in the glow and kaleidoscope of autumn that I can also agree with the leaves that letting go is an act of love, faith, and grace. The leaves - red or green, gold or brown - remind me that letting go is not a failure, it is seasonal.
ECCLESIASTES 3 There is a time for everything, a season for every purpose under heaven: a season to be born and a season to die; a season to plant and a season to harvest; a season to hurt and a season to heal; a season to tear down and a season to build up; a season to cry and a season to laugh; a season to mourn and a season to dance; a season to scatter stones and a season gather them; a season for holding close and a season for holding back; a season to seek and a season to lose; a season to keep and a season throw away; a season to tear and a season to mend; a season to be silent and a season to speak; a season to love and a season to hate; a season for hostilities and a season for peace.
What season are you in? Building up or tearing down? Scattering or gathering?
Silence or Speaking? How are you luxuriating in what you love, even if it's a season of mourning or hurt?
Blessings for your Sunday and the week ahead.
See you next week, October 18, 4 pm, at the church.
-Liz
Napa, California - October 2026
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