And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. II Corinthians 9:8
Last evening I caught my first real sense of autumn approaching. There were new scents in the air, the gentle breeze had a slightly different feel. And, of course, leaves were beginning to drift silently to the ground. What is it about fall that holds us in its spell, and captures our sense of settling in after a summer of busyness and out-of-the-ordinary activities? Maybe it’s an opportunity to breathe a bit before old man winter comes calling.
On recent trips for groceries, I’ve noticed this year’s crop of apples making their way into the produce section and who doesn’t love to bite into a crisp, juicy apple, newly picked from the tree? The best part for me is the smell of apples simmering in cinnamon and brown sugar, whether as a side dish, a cobbler, or a crisp. Nothing says fall more to me than the tantalizing aroma of apples cooking. Soon on a crisp evening, I’ll sit with a cup of steaming spiced cider to warm me through and through…yummy!
The humble apple has become the most popular and most used fruit throughout our world. Its origins are in Far Eastern countries. It migrated westward through the Middle and Near East and then to Europe. Most sources agree that it came to the shores of North America in the early sixteen hundreds with some of the first settlers of this wild continent, new and challenging to all but the indigenous residents who populated its woods and hills.
These earliest immigrants came with everything they thought they needed to survive because no new supply ships would be reaching them anytime soon and their seed for crops would all require a full growing season to mature into edible stores. Apple trees, though slower to mature, were an important part of their cargo accompanied by hives of honey bees for pollination. Within a few years, the apple trees flourished and, with the help of worker bees, bore large crops of juicy, red fruit. The apple was a staple of the pioneer diet because it could be used in so many ways and was easy to preserve for the long, lean winter months. Not only was it eaten fresh and stored successfully in cool, underground cellars, but huge kettles cooked the apples down gently over an open fire into creamy apple sauce and apple butter. Crude cider mills popped up all over the countryside to produce both sweet and hard varieties. The apple could also be dried for eating or rehydrating later for pastries. Eventually, apple trees would find their way all across this great land we call home.
The apple became such a prominent part of the pioneer diet that communities came together each fall to pick, peel and cook down apples for their many uses. Peeling so many apples by hand was really tedious work, so entrepreneurs began coming up with tools for peeling all those apples, or paring, as they called it. Over the years, numerous types of apple peelers were invented, and some of them will be in use at Aldersgate next week. That’s because fall is apple pie-making time at Aldersgate. It’s been a tradition for quite some time and Aldersgate pies have gained a great reputation among the locals. So, if you have some time, check the schedule for peeling the fruit and assembling pies. Your help will be greatly appreciated.
And, if you have a hankering to re-create that sense of pioneering spirit by hanging a kettle over a fire to make apple butter outdoors, there are folks around our area who do that. Just locate a schedule of fall festivals for dates and information.
All this talk about apples reminds me of God’s ample provision for us. We see evidence of the apple, or something similar, all the way back to the Garden of Eden. God provided the fruit of life from the very beginning. Over the centuries it has been dev eloped and hybridized to create the countless varieties we find in our markets today, and though man was certainly involved in the changes and developments, our God always has been and always will be in control. We can count on His daily provision, both physically and spiritually. Grab yourself a juicy red apple, polish it until it sparkles, take a bite and remember, we may have had a hand in growing it, but only God could create it.
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. Psalm 23:1
