Observations

Autumn is here.  For those of us in the North, we get to enjoy crisp morning air and the trees changing colors.  The trees change from lush green to beautiful yellows, oranges and reds.  Personally, it is my favorite of the four seasons.  My only wish is that fall and the colors would last longer.  A frost, hard rain or strong wind can make the vibrantly colored leaves drop to the ground quickly. 

In thinking about seasons, each season brings different characteristics and has varying purpose.  One isn’t better than another.  Although I have heard many in the North share – okay complain – that winter is too cold, too long, too snowy, too Northpole like. 

Each season was specifically created by God for a purpose.  The spring shows new life.  This has botanical and spiritual correlation.  The summer is a growing and maturing time.  The fall is a harvest, a gathering, reaping of the end product.  The winter is the dormant time.  With no leaves or growth, it looks dreary and absent of life.  The key is the resting period and the preparation happening below the surface.  Winter is getting ready for the spring and new life again. 

Seems our lives can have each of these seasons.  Newness.  Growth/Maturing.  Harvest.  Rest.  If our lives were only new growth, we would get weary.  Never maturing to harvest and bearing fruit.  We would definitely need a rest.  Sometimes we think rest is boring and unnecessary (I know my middle school age son does), but we need it for the next season of new things that God has for us.

Sure, winter can be cold.  Autumn colors are so beautiful.  Embrace each season and find the purpose in the season you are in.