Pastoral Letter: Room for Another Favorite Apple
Dear SUM Family,
Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus Christ.
My wife and I recently went apple picking with our children. We do not visit the same orchard every year, but this was one we had been to several times before. We wandered among the trees beneath a blue autumn sky, enjoying the bright sunshine and gentle breeze. The sweet smell of apples mingled with the scent of grass. It was a lovely day to be outside together, taking our time and picking apples.
Some apples had already fallen to the ground, while others were still hanging from the branches. There was one disappointment: our family’s favorites, Honeycrisp and Fuji, were not available. I had already bought a medium-sized bag, imagining all the apples we would bring home. I had been a little ambitious, and now the apples I had pictured filling it with were not there.
Still, we had a bag to fill. We looked over the other apples, chose the ones that looked good, and filled it right up. Walking among the trees with an empty bag had been easy enough. Heading back to the parking lot with a full one made the path seem surprisingly long. Apples are heavy.
Does this time of year bring back apple-picking memories for you? Perhaps there is an orchard you have visited for years or a variety you look forward to every fall. Some of you may remember going as children, then taking your own children, and now going with grandchildren. The people beside you change over the years, and a familiar outing gathers new memories.
You might remember one particular day: the weather, the company, or just how many apples somehow came home. Perhaps the memory includes a pie or applesauce made afterward, when you realized how much you had picked. Sometimes a familiar taste or smell brings back a whole afternoon we have not thought about in years.
Our family already has its favorites, of course. That was why I felt disappointed. But looking back, the day still held so much to receive: time together, the beauty around us, and the pleasure of choosing something different. There were other apples on the trees and room in our bag.
Among the apples we brought home, there may be a flavor we have never really given ourselves a chance to enjoy. I like imagining that first bite and the small surprise of saying, “This one is good, too!” An apple we chose because our favorites were unavailable could become one we look for on purpose next time.
James reminds us that every good and generous gift comes from above, from the God who does not change (James 1:17). There is something cheerful about realizing that we may not have discovered all our favorites yet. I went to the orchard knowing which apples I wanted. Now I am curious about the ones we brought home. Honeycrisp and Fuji can keep their places on our family’s list. There is room for another.
Before our church begins its stewardship season next month, I find myself grateful for the gifts already entrusted to us: the people who worship and serve, the memories we share, and the new possibilities God continues to place before us. Gratitude does not mean that everything is exactly as we expected. It helps us notice that God is still giving us good gifts—and inviting us to receive them with open hearts.
I hope this fall gives you time to enjoy something familiar and perhaps try something new. May an old memory bring a smile, and may a small surprise give you a new story to tell. If you find yourself in an orchard, I hope you have a lovely day—and that the walk back to the car is not too long.
And if you have a favorite apple, please tell me. I will add it to our family’s list.
Grace and peace,
Pastor DH
Simsbury United Methodist Church