It's fall again.  And again the leaves blowing around at the top of my blog seem appropriate, although at 47 and gaining speed on the old timeline, I think autumn represents well, the time of life in which I currently find myself.

I got to spend the weekend at the Powers family cabin near Peaceful Valley in the Rocky Mountains (thank-you! thank-you! thank-you!).  For over 11 hours on Saturday, I sat near the rushing river tumbling down boulders and powering it's way through fallen branches and sharp rocks in dappled sunlight that warmed my skin while the gentlest of breezes brought cool refreshment.  I read and sang and thought and rested and listened and wondered and cried and smiled and prayed.  In that setting, you cannot help but be drawn into spontaneous conversations with God.  The evergreens, greatly varied in their hues, all strong and tall were punctuated by Aspens I am certain I could actually see changing color before my eyes – a bit more colorful hour by hour.  The underbrush, having gotten an earlier start is already deep oranges and reds, even browns and purples.  Brilliant berries are being found out by small birds which, having swiped a treasure as such from the bush quickly flies to a needle-rich pine branch nearby and looks for all the world as if I have just opened a Christmas card.

It is autumn.  The leaves "down below" will change soon enough and drop, but instead of getting to enjoy the process, our Home Owner's Associations will make sure we dispose of them in short order.  No letting the kids tumble in them or burning them in a chilly-night bonfire.

As quickly restored as I found myself in a garden only God could have created, I see that in suburbia, we have stripped away much of what feeds our minds, stills the panic, and quiets the emotion of the day.

It's fall again.  The summer is past.  Rich, ripe beauty is at hand, but let's be careful not to miss it.

I wax melancholy today.  Yet, I pray for anyone who wanders by to be blessed with great color and delight in this season of your life – whatever it may hold. 

"Oh! May the God of green-hope fill you up with joy, fill you up with peace, so that your believing-lives, filled with the life-giving energy of the Holy Spirit, will brim over with hope!" (That's in The Message, Romans 15)…Jeanie

NOTE TO SELF: Keep meeting Him in the garden.