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Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. (Psalm 37:5)

Although autumn is never long enough, I hope everyone has had a chance to enjoy its beauty before the long, wet winter arrives. For a while, I enjoyed sitting on the balcony, gazing at the gentle change of colors in the leaves. Now, those same leaves are falling, helping the trees prepare for the coming season of rest.

I have noticed that the leaves at the top begin to fall first. In many trees, this results in a curious sight—bare branches above and lingering leaves below. Without any scientific explanation, I reflected on this. The leaves at the top are farthest from the roots and perhaps receive less nourishment, while those nearer the roots remain stronger for a time. This reflection led me to think about the Church.

The root of our Christian community is Christ. We are the body of Christ, as we believe. In that sense, a community that grows distant from its roots can easily weaken, while one that remains close to its source of life stays strong, even through the changing seasons. To be close to our roots,

I believe, is to live in the Spirit of Christ—serving, healing, and loving as Jesus did. He lived and gave Himself for others so that they might be restored, reconnected, and renewed in love. As His Church, we too live most fully when we give ourselves into God and for one another. It may seem contrary to our natural instincts for survival, yet in giving and emptying ourselves, we discover who we truly are as children of God.

The opposite happens when we turn inward, serving our own ego— seeking self-interest, pride, or being trapped in self-consciousness or self-indulgence. The moment we close ourselves off to others, we begin to drift from our roots and lose the strength that comes only from God’s life within us.

As we pray and plan for our future during this stewardship season, I invite you to reflect on where you are rooted. Our goal is not to climb higher for our own success, but to grow deeper in love and service, helping others flourish. In doing so, we keep our roots strong and our community alive in Christ.

May we remain like trees planted by streams of living water—rooted in Christ, nourished by grace, and growing together toward the light of God’s love.

Fr. James