While January is the beginning of the year, September always feels so much more like the real beginning — maybe it’s just that we need to get through all the new things to have time to celebrate in January.  So, with the party already scheduled, we can dive right into September.

I’m doing something new this September.  Well it’s new and continuing.  I’m the Assistant Family Life Pastor at my church (CLA in Langley). This is a new title and portfolio for the work I’ve been doing for the past year while filling in to help keep the Children’s program up and running.  Changes have been made, a new Family Life Pastor (Jenni Colwell) is in place as of Aug 1st to lead the team recommissioned — it feels full of potential.  I’m a little nervous, but stirred up and full of anticipation.

What’s new for you this September? — Or, what’s old, or already, but being made new or beginning again?  Change is challenging, but necessary; it’s the food we need to keep our living fresh and green, courageous and hopeful.

Chrysalis

A voracious hunger
compels a caterpillar
(an able enough creature already,
with all those legs and
one big mouth!) – into
swaddled silence.
Mouthful, after green mouthful
consumed, she rests
and the dark work begins
in secret.  She’s asked to give up
her voluptuous body
and her clever soldier feet
(that cling so well to the good earth
and other important things)
in exchange for something
that feels so different.

In the dark
does she even know she’ll fly
with those diaphanous wings?

© 2018 – Laurel Archer

Photo credit – Featured: Chrysalis – Pixabay.com; Western Tiger Swallowtail butterfly,  Laurel Archer.