When the Leaves Are Still Holding On Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:1–6

This past weekend, I went to Minnesota for a wedding. Usually, Minnesota is cold this time of year, so I expected chilly weather. Well, imagine my surprise when it was 90 degrees! It was really hot, but it worked out beautifully for the wedding.

While the weather surprised me, something else caught my attention. The leaves, of course, were changing. But in mid-October, they were truly holding on before they fell. You could see fall in their colors, even though the temperature made it feel like summer was still hanging around.

As I looked at those trees, I started thinking about us. Sometimes we are like those leaves. We know something is changing in our lives, but we are still holding on. We can see that we are entering another season, yet we need a little time to understand what that means.
That brought me to Ecclesiastes 3:1: “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” Verse 6 then says there is “a time to keep, and a time to cast away” (KJV). Those words invite us to ask what season we are in and what we need to carry.

But knowing which season we are in isn't always easy. Sometimes our circumstances change before we are ready. A responsibility comes to an end. Our family needs something different from us. Our bodies tell us to slow down. And we find ourselves asking, “What do I do now? What do I keep, and what do I let go?”

As we ask those questions, we can remember that some things still belong with us. Our faith, our love for the people in our care, and the lessons we have learned can help us move forward. We may have to find a different way to live those things out, but they still matter.

At the same time, we need to look honestly at what has become too heavy. Maybe we are holding on to a disagreement, still waiting for an apology that has never come. Maybe we keep blaming ourselves for a mistake we cannot go back and change. Or we had a plan for our lives, and we are struggling to accept that things have turned out differently. When we have carried something for a long time, we can get used to its weight. We may need to pause and ask, “God, what am I still holding on to, and how is it affecting the way I live today?”

That question can also lead us to look at how tightly we hold on to who we used to be. We remember having more energy or managing everything without asking for help. It can be hard to admit that we need a different pace now, especially when people have always counted on us.

And that is why we need to give ourselves some grace. Letting go can bring grief. Ecclesiastes speaks about a time to weep, a time to laugh, a time to mourn, and a time to dance. We may experience more than one of those in the same season. We can be thankful for what is beginning and still miss what has ended.

I thought about that as we celebrated the wedding. Two people were beginning a life together, making promises for a future they could not fully see. Outside, the trees were changing, too, with leaves still holding on as the season moved forward.
Both reminded me that we do not always have everything figured out when a new season begins. Sometimes we take one step and learn as we go. We pray, ask for help, and trust that God will guide us through what we do not yet understand.

Perhaps that is where you are today. If so, start by telling God the truth about it. “God, I am afraid of what comes next.” “God, help me know what is mine to carry.” You can begin right there, with the words you have.

This week, take a moment to look at the trees and think about your own season. What still needs your care? What can you begin to release? Give yourself time to listen. God is with you as you work through those questions and take your next step.

Pray with me: God, help us recognize the season we are in. Give us wisdom to hold on to what matters and courage to release what has become too heavy. Be gentle with us in our grief, and help us trust you with what comes next. Amen.

Written by Rev. Kay Dubuisson