September is back-to-school month here in Minnesota and in many other places across the country. Although it has now been five years since I graduated seminary, I still get the back-to-school butterflies around this time of year! There is something exciting about the rhythm of a new cycle of learning and growth. And of course, there is the unparalleled experience of opening those packages of brand new sharpened pencils and fresh notebooks.
As we moved through this most recent cycle of Sing For Joy recordings, I noticed that one of the scripture readings appointed for early September feels especially appropriate for the beginning of a new school year and the start of a new program year at church. On September 7, the appointed psalm is Psalm 1, which describes the delight we experience when we are grounded in God's goodness and grace. The psalmist writes that those who delight in God's law are "like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither" (Ps. 1:3). This is such a lovely image for this time of year. As the seasons of life and nature change, we are invited to remain deeply rooted in God's grace, like a tree rooted in the earth.
I'm reminded of the majestic redwood trees that Andy and I saw when we visited Muir Woods in California earlier this spring. On my desk at church, I have a photo of us in front of one of those redwoods. While our bodies only take up a small portion of the photograph, you can hardly see the entire tree trunk because it is so large! Coastal redwoods like the ones we saw in California are known as the tallest trees in the world, sometimes reaching as high as a 320-story skyscraper and with trunks as wide as 27 feet. Plant and animal life flourishes in the canopies as well as on the ground beneath the redwoods, and in Muir Woods, the roots receive nourishment from the nearby Redwood Creek. Again, I remember the psalmist's image of rootedness.
I hope you will tune into our September 7 program as we hear two different musical settings of Psalm 1, one by Bruce Neswick and another by Nathan Carter. And this September, as you make the turn into whatever this season will bring, may you stay rooted in God's grace. Just as the roots of a mighty redwood sink deep into the earth, may your roots of faith keep you grounded. And just as the creek waters nourish the soil, may the waters of baptism refresh and nourish you as the year continues.
Peace to you all,
