A Time to Drop

In Ecclesiastes 3, we are reminded that there is a season for all things under heaven. While we know in our heads this is true, our hearts are another matter.

We emotionally hold on to all kinds of things in our lives. Toys from when the kids were little, high school memorabilia, work and education papers that might be useful again someday, hobby supplies that we haven't touched in years.

This time of year, we watch as trees drop their leaves and the wind blows them away. The trees trust that new leaves will show up in a few months, and life will go on. For the tree, this is a time of rest and dormancy. A time of being still and waiting.

We have many moments in our lives when we get to drop stuff and take a time of stillness and rest. When our kids start school and are gone all day. When they graduate and move out. When a job changes. When we retire. When we end a committee or group that we've been a part of. What rituals do we have at these times? Do we clean out and drop the stuff, or do we let it pile up on desks and counters and shelves and in boxes in the basement?

Something called "Swedish Death Cleaning" is having a moment on the internet these days. This is a tradition in Sweden where people clean and declutter to reduce the burden on their loved ones after they die. It's a process that can be useful for everyone, not just older people or terminally ill people.

As with trees dropping their leaves, we can go through the stuff and schedules of our lives and drop the items and activities that are no longer useful to us. This isn't to say the stuff or activities aren't still meaningful to someone, just not us.

How many of us feel better when our lives are manageable? Is it easier to clean the house and make schedules with important people in our lives? Do we feel better when we have spent time with God and adored God's work in creation instead of running around super scheduled?

As the trees drop leaves, and we see more sunshine through the branches, maybe we can take some time to drop things in our lives. Maybe we can live with trust that we can rest now and that we will have enough in the next season. Amen.

Pastor Anna-Lisa Hunter

October 28, 2025