09.29.2025 | Ordinary Monday

Welcoming October: A Breath of Change
As September draws to a close, I feel the shift in the air. After the relentless heat of summer, it’s time for a long, cleansing breath. The mornings arrive with a crispness that whispers of change. Leaves begin their slow transformation, dressing in their autumn best. October is nearly here, and with it comes a quiet turning, a subtle invitation to reflect, realign, and prepare.
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This season is a threshold. Autumn calls us to harvest what we've sown, to gather wisdom from the year’s growth, and to prepare ourselves for the inward journey toward winter. It’s a time to pause and listen, to honor the rhythms of nature and spirit.
 
Our Jewish friends mark this season with Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur—a sacred time of renewal, forgiveness, and spiritual cleansing. These observances remind us that change is not only external but internal. In the spirit of this season, we echo the ancient prayer: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10). What a tender invitation to release what no longer serves us and step forward with intention.
 
Let us finish September by leaning into transformation. May we seek balance, celebrate our spiritual growth, and honor the ongoing journey—within ourselves and with one another.