Time Enough
It’s November. My house is slowly being purged of Halloween decor and my thoughts are turning toward Thanksgiving. The weather feels like it is going to make the break for Winter any day. It’s crisper, colder, damper than before. The early dark makes me pine for fires long before they are due. And the sunshine, that is so abundant at the moment, does not bring warmth. Instead, it casts thin fingerling shadows along the sidewalk that I dodge to stay out of the chill.
November is apples and pies, family and friends. Gold, orange, red. Big roasted turkeys, maple leaves strewn on the lawn. November is that slow, melodic movement toward the holidays. I am not there yet, but I realize I cannot help but edge closer toward glitter and tinsel and nativities and snow. I feel it in traces of excitement everywhere I turn. There are small swells of holiday spirit. . . small glimpses of a nearby future. The air is swirling at my feet, pushing me forward toward December.
But I am not there yet. It’s only November and my thoughts are also turning to the themes we associate with this month. Gratitude. Thankfulness. Contentment. Abundance. I am finding that I am overwhelmed by the prospect of writing all that I am thinking. All that I am feeling. This is the preacher’s constant lament, “What to say on Sunday?” And in a month like November it is tempting to preach a half dozen sermons on one Sunday. My dilemma is not resolved by the fact I blog nearly every day—as that same rush toward December seems to suggest I rush the writing as well. I could preach a month of Sundays on Abundance alone… and still it would not be enough to capture what I know to be true; we are so blessed. So very, very blessed.
I am taking this month slowly. It is not yet December. Separating the strands, trying hard not to say it all at once. There is time enough to tell you my feelings about November. Gratitude. Thankfulness. Contentment. Abundance.
There is time enough to tell you that we are so very blessed.
November 6th, 2007 at 6:33 pm
Oh! SOOO beautiful, Wende- words, thoughts and photograph. This is the best of times to be grateful for our gifts. Thank YOU.
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Thank you… November seems to be that moment, eh? ~W
November 6th, 2007 at 6:35 pm
P.S. These lovely hydrangea remind me that I’m trying to remember the link to your mailbox? Your porch feng shui is so good…
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I sent you the link via twitter… although it looks like you found it.
~W
November 6th, 2007 at 7:16 pm
I love the arrangement - it looks so lovely. Your words are even more powerful. Thank you for reminding me of beauty and of gratitude. Indeed, I am grateful to have both you and G. I love you.
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You are my biggest reminder that there is beauty in this world. Thank you for sitting through my process this morning. I needed the cry.
~W
November 6th, 2007 at 7:27 pm
It seems inappropriate somehow to comment after your dear husband’s sweet words, but it’s my birthday, so I’ll throw caution to the wind:
I like how you don’t rush things and hurry about. Positively yogic! You are a fine writer, my dear!
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Oh! Happy Birthday, Bonnie. I hope you’re having a terrific day.
And… thank you. 
~W
November 6th, 2007 at 8:34 pm
Well said! Thanks for the reminders on all that we have.
Your hydrangeas are positively perfect. Oh, how I envy your porch!!!
And… whenever I see comments from IZ I get such a warm, fuzzy feeling. You two are so sweet!
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To think I’ve lived a life without a porch! And thank you!!
~W
November 6th, 2007 at 10:19 pm
I have been so wrapped up in a new baby, a big move, a sudden loss, that I keep (almost) forgetting that Christmas is right around the corner. I’m grateful that I’m forced to be so focused on the present and that I, too, can enjoy the blessings of this month. I think it will eventually lead to a more pure enjoyment of December, too.
Lovely post!
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Oh, Stacey… you have so many changes going on right now—I marvel at your ability to slow down in the midst of all that! Hold tight… it will get easier. It will, it will. When I think about all that you’re dealing with, one of my favorite quotations comes to mind: “And all will be well, and all will be well. All manner of things will be well.” ~Julian of Norwich (1342-1416). Those words have gotten me through so much chaos… as they are the words Julian hears from God when her world is spinning. Blessings! ~ W
November 7th, 2007 at 5:43 am
It is indeed so very hard to just sit… but I do love this time of year. It’s easier to sit or wait or be slow when even the trees are hanging on to their last leaves. God was so good when he made those four seasons!
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Heh… spoken like a woman who lives where there ARE 4 distinct seasons.
~W
November 7th, 2007 at 12:28 pm
Wende, I don’t get to your blog often - just once every few months to see how things are going - but I’m always better for it. Thanks for small gifts of great beauty. (P.S. I’m back from Switzerland and enjoying the crisp coolness of an Oregon fall, myself.)
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Aims! Oh my, I’ve been thinking about you this week! I’m so glad you dropped me a note. Keep me posted as to where you land next. Blessings! ~W
November 7th, 2007 at 1:16 pm
It is finally time to slow down and really enjoy all of our blessings isn’t it? I love the constant reminders at this time of year…to finally be able to do just that…sit and look at everything all around me.
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I’m so glad you’re enjoying the process.
~W
November 7th, 2007 at 4:59 pm
Whack?!
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*snort* ~W
November 7th, 2007 at 8:35 pm
What a lovely post. I needed to read this today. I am thankful.
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Oh, good, good, good!! ~W
November 8th, 2007 at 3:33 pm
sigh.
Okay.
I’m game.
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I have so much to say on all this… and it’s not coming out like I’d planned. But I’m working on it. Thanks for sticking with me.
~W