Try to remember the kind of September when life was slow and oh, so mellow. (The Brothers Four – 1965)

Do you remember those days of September when life was slow and oh, so mellow?  Me neither.  Don’t get me wrong.  I love September.  The weather starts to cool off and (in most years) the fields are showing their promise of a great harvest.  But it’s a busy time that doesn’t seem slow or even very mellow.  Here in Concordia, we have the Fall Festival with friends and alumni returning to laugh and enjoy each other.  There are more and more activities it seems every year with music, drama and sports teams practicing and playing and parents and grandparents driving all over the place to watch and “encourage”.  

At the same time there are the ever-present concerns that don’t stop just because it’s the month of September.  There are still funerals to attend and people that need a kind word.  The politics of the day are incessant.  Somewhere there is a war – and rumors of war.   Because the weather is nice – the busy intersections of the cities will have more homeless people with their signs asking for “assistance” –– but winter is coming.  With all this busyness going on, it can become difficult to find the “mellow” part of life.

The apostle Paul reminds us that regardless of what is going on in your life, it’s always a good time to be mellow.  To the Philippians (ch. 4) he writes, “I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.  I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound.  In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.  I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”

Perhaps what we LIKE to remember was that time in life when the cares of this world were not that heavy.  Maybe it was September – or some other month – or year.  (For me, I think 1965 was pretty mellow since I was enjoying kindergarten. My biggest concern was if I remembered to bring my fold-out mat for nap time.)  It was probably a time when you were not in charge of much and you didn’t have to worry about it.

Paul tells us that you are STILL not in charge of much and you SHOULDN’T worry about it.  WE can do all things through HIM who strengthens us.  Or, as Thomas à Kempis (The Imitation of Christ, 136) states, “You cannot find complete satisfaction in any temporal gift, because you were not created to find your delight in them. Even if you possessed all the good things God has created, you could not feel happy and glad; all your gladness and happiness rest in the God who created those things.”

Remember that time when you were content with knowing that God has everything under control?  That time is now.  Stay mellow.

Rev. Paul M. Mehl

Executive Director