Windfall

Earlier this week I was sat in the garden thinking about these prayers. A near-ripe pear fell from its branch and landed by my side with a thud. The pear tree is now full of pears almost ready to harvest and each day a few fall to the ground to signify this. We call the pears on the ground, the fallen fruit, “Windfall”. We also use this term to mean an unexpected receiving of money. Today, as we go to God in prayer, let us consider windfall to be more than monetary; may it be all the wonderful unexpected gifts in our lives.

Let us pray;

Almighty Creator, we thank you for this wonderful season as the summer sun softens, the mornings grow cooler, the leaves turn to shades of gold and burnt sienna. This time of harvest draws our attention to the process of preparing the soil, sewing seeds and bulbs, tending to the growing plants and finally harvesting the fruits. We thank you that this process, both simple and miraculous, is enough to provide all the food and sustenance we need each week. We are truly grateful for the bounty of fruit and vegetables and grains provided to us.

For those of us who have enough, instead of thinking “How can I get more?” may we start thinking “How can I share more?” Heavenly Parent, we are all your children and it must break your heart that this harvest some of us will sit at tables laden with food beyond necessity, whilst others scrabble in the dust for a morsel. Show us new ways to care, to share, to give, to challenge broken systems so that harvest is truly a harvest for the world, not just the wealthy.

Lord as we consider the fruit that falls to the ground in the breeze may we reflect on the windfall in our lives. May we call to mind all the unexpected wonderous blessings that have come our way on our journey to harvest this year. Sometimes life seems hard, a struggle, but when we reflect on the simple joys that crop up in our lives we are reminded that life is good and through you we have an abundance of spiritual blessings in it. We may sometimes feel burdened by the toil but we are always grateful for the harvest.

Holy Spirit remind us that the farmer does not sew corn just to make enough bread for herself. No, she sews then reaps and cannot guess how many nor who will be fed by the produce. Likewise remind us that each day we make choices at to which seeds to sew, not often knowing the consequences of our actions. Bless us Holy Spirit, let each time we sew lead to a harvest, a windfall for someone in need.

Amen.