A Prayer for October

Saints, Ancestors, Love Watching Over Us:

as the crunching leaves and darker evenings remind us of the dark to come

and of the dark that already fills our world

from far off corners we can barely comprehend

to the shadowy corners of our own homes that we’d rather hurry past,

allow us to grieve

as we must

to be able to have the strength to continue

or to make change

allow us to fold in

and reflect

and perhaps try our hand at

hibernation

just a bit

as the days get crisper and shorter

remind us that we need rest

allow us to contemplate

with fear

or curiosity

or confusion

the unknown that lies ahead of each of us

the unknown in which you dwell

but in all of this,

never let us forget of the light that you brought

the light that you are

the light we will be

the light we believe is to come

amidst all the fear and pain we experience here

Through your sometimes “uncommon”

and occasionally frightening ways

that you allow and remind us of all of these things

and that remind us

that you are still with us

every day

may we come to a deeper understanding

of this wisdom of yours

the wisdom of death

and the wisdom of eternal life

Amen.