Autumn's Invitation 🍂 New Post + Giveaway + Advent Resources
Welcome to R&R!
Your monthly reflection and reading recommendations to nourish your soul.
Autumn's Invitation
It’s autumn in this part of the world and the British weather, fickle creature that it is, fluctuates between crisp, golden days of mellow sunshine and constant, dreary drizzle, drenching everything it touches.
Yesterday, we were treated to the latter, but my friend and I decided to go for a walk anyway. We bundled up in boots and coats and headed into the woods for some tree therapy.
I wondered if the rain might dampen our trip, but I needn’t have worried. Droplets of water highlighted everything: colours appeared more vibrant, the fresh smell of the earth was accentuated, our conversation seemed richer.
This year marks my forty-second autumn and I’m not tired of it yet. Such a vivid array of colour revives my soul, and when rays from the low-angled sun hit the trees just right, it seems as though heaven’s door must have cracked open to give us a glimpse of glory.
But each year, I know this artistry will not last. The earth will tilt further away from the sun. The trees cannot sustain their leaves through the coming winter, so they will let them go in a choreographed act of self-protection. Once their chlorophyll has dwindled away, the leaves will fall to the ground, leaving behind skeletal branches; stark silhouettes standing empty against the changing skies.
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Autumn shows up faithfully each year to remind us that letting go is part of life. It’s a hard lesson to learn when we’d rather cling onto what is familiar; when we know that loss can be disorienting and painful. But what if the things we are holding onto are no longer serving us? What if we need to let go as an act of self-care?
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When I was first diagnosed with depression, I used to go to sleep listening to Audible or watching Netflix as a way of disrupting my brain from unhelpful ideas. But what started out as a healthy practice, became a habit I relied on to avoid thinking about anything too painful.
Recently, though, I have felt the Spirit drawing me back to moments of intentional silence. I wondered how that might feel. Would the silence be lonely? Would my emotions be overwhelming? Would my grief be too much to cope with?
But in these empty spaces I have found room for my emotions to surface and also be released. I have found room to dream new dreams. I have found enough quiet to hear the Spirit’s whisper: you are my beloved.
In the silence and solitude, I have found an invitation let go of other things too: attitudes and expectations, judgement and criticism, fear and anxiety. It turns out that letting go can be a pathway to increasing wholeness and peace.
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As we walked through the woods yesterday, my eyes were mostly lowered. The paths were slippery, and I didn’t want to lose my footing. But the muddy ground squelching beneath my wellies was studded with fallen leaves; bright gems of colour returning to the earth they came from, ready to become nourishment for what will grow next spring. The earth participates in a constant cycle of life, death and resurrection. The seasons, if we are alive to them, are an invitation for us to join in that transformation, too.
Reading Recommendations
I'm usually averse to using the 'C' word before the beginning of December, but I'm getting in early because I wanted to recommend to you some of my favourite Advent books in plenty of time for you to get hold of them if you want to.
Redeeming Advent, by Lucy Rycroft
This is a brand new Advent devotional written by my friend Lucy. It's a funny, moving and wise look at how we can make space for Jesus in the midst of all the busyness that this season brings. If you like warm, witty, down-to-earth, yet thoughtful reflections, I highly recommend this book.
You can win a FREE signed copy by signing up to my email list here. If you're already signed up, no need to do anything further! A winner will be picked at random and announced on 1st November.
Silence and Other Surprising Invitations of Advent, by Enuma Okoro
I read this Advent book last year and loved it. Rather than the usual focus on Mary and Joseph, Okoro invites us into the story of Elizabeth and Zachariah. In these poignant, daily meditations, we find acknowledgement of our grief and our wounds as well as the blessings and joy we experience during seasons of waiting.
The Greatest Gift, by Anne Voskamp
Voskamp is well-known as a poetic, thoughtful writer who helps us to meditate deeply on the words of the Bible, and this devotional is no different. She invites us to see the bigger picture of what God is doing in and through Jesus, by tracing his family history over the days of Advent. This is a rich reminder of the true meaning of Christmas.
Accompanied by Angels: Poems of the Incarnation, by Luci Shaw
This isn't strictly a Christmas book, but Shaw articulates something deeply moving about 'the Word become flesh' in her poetry. Much like music, I find that poetry has the ability to bypass my mind and burrow straight into my soul. This is a compelling collection that offers the reader an invitation to see Jesus in a fresh light.
And finally...
It's so good to have you here. Please know that you are so welcome and wanted! If you'd like to get in touch, I'd love to hear from you - just hit reply to this email or find me on social media @abbykingwrites.
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With love and gratitude,
Abby