It’s officially fall here on the East Coast.
In August, I started to notice the hints of change. There’s a magical little park I visit with my dogs, an estuary off of the Chesapeake Bay, where we hike and swim. Last month, I began to see a few leaves start to yellow. Then in September, flicks of red began to appear.
Lately, I’ve noticed the angle of the sun has shifted. It’s such an interesting aspect of the seasons changing – it’s amazing how much of a difference it can make in lighting and the way nature around us appears.
And yesterday, as I hiked through the woods, there was a distinct smell of autumn, of dried leaves started to decay. A warm breeze was blowing, as if an attempt to usher in more of fall.
Hints of change.
Glimpses of a new season.
I find so much peace and assurance in the changing of seasons. I love each one in its own way and find great joy in the passing of each season. There is peace and comfort in knowing what to expect – what to look forward to.
I often wish there was such certainty with the seasons of life. Wouldn’t it be nice to know what is coming or when?
Particularly in those very hard times, we want our circumstances, our season, to change. I know this full well.
And yet, what if we embraced the current season and all it had to teach us?
What if we trusted there was a purpose in every process?
We wouldn’t want to go from the lush green leaves of summer immediately to the fallen leaves of winter – we’d miss the array of colors in the autumn foliage.
And yet we can be on the lookout for the hints of change. We can trust that it is coming.
It may be a month, a year, or ten years, but it is coming. Our Lord watches over the sparrows, he most certainly watches over your life.
“But I trust in you, Lord; I say, “You are my God.” My times are in your hands.”
Psalms 31:14-15
Our times are in his hands.
Embrace the current season, in all its beauty and messiness.
Be on the lookout for glimpses of the next season.
And trust that one day, there will be a season when all is made right.