As we reflect on life’s changes, remember God

    Autumn is a time of change and often a time of reflection. And, just like change and reflection, autumn always returns. It is cyclical in nature and comes again and again.
    In Louisiana, it’s often difficult to gauge the seasons without the leaves changing color or the brisk coolness in the air. But one of the things that I have come to love about the Midwest is the experience of definite seasons and the reflection that comes with seeing the fall of the leaves and knowing that snow will soon be on the ground.
    I’ve often heard of autumn and spring referred to as transitional seasons, situating us for the upcoming major changes of winter and summer. With change comes reflection, a reflection for times past, but also a looking forward to what will come in the future. And with reflection comes prayer.
    I think we often wonder whether prayer means anything. People often question whether it is a fruitless effort to pray to God. After all, God is perfect and all-knowing. Doesn’t God already know what will come in the future? Doesn’t his knowledge supersede our knowledge?
    I don’t pretend to have the answers to these questions. In fact, these are questions that I continue to struggle with. We all hope. We all pray. And in the end, we don’t know if everything will work out. But we have faith that it will.
    Recently, Pope Francis called for a day of prayer and fasting for Syria. Calling for an end to violence and death, Pope Francis asked for us to rethink the approaches to conflict between countries as the United States and France think about military action. We don’t know how this conflict will resolve, but we must trust that God does. With our prayers, I think, a certain feeling of peace overcomes us as we realize that sometimes things are out of our control.
    I don’t remember how long ago it was that my parents taught me how to pray. But I do remember my mom telling us that sometimes our prayers aren’t answered and, in those times, we must have faith and ask for the strength to bear that refusal.
    I think all of us have experienced these refusals, often in times of sickness and death. I remember as a sophomore in high school “praying” a prayer that was reminiscent of bargaining with God for my great-grandfather to live.
    “If you could heal PawPaw, I’ll say a rosary” or do something else that I found bothersome in my naïve youth. We all experience those times, but in spite of everything, we must remember that God loves and cares for each of us and that everything happens because of that deep, selfless love.
    Moreover, it is in these moments of prayer – of reflection – that we truly see change. It is no coincidence that in times of change and crisis, more people turn to prayer. I think this happens because of our fear for the future, our fear of change. Yet, we must remember that we have been on the brink of change before: with each new beginning, there is also always a return.
    There is always a reminder that even as we embrace something new, even as we embark on change, there are signs of the familiar: the leaves changing color, the continual presence of life and, hopefully, the familiar presence of prayer and the comfort in knowing that we are loved by God.    
    This is our autumn return. We have seen these things before, and we must trust that, even with change and renewal, God walks before us, guiding us always.
    Heather Bozant Witcher can be reached at [email protected]