Summer is winding down. Fall is upon us. It makes me a little melancholy walking through the gardens at the end of the season. The tomatoes, peppers and herbs will hang on until the first hard frost. But, its sure to come soon. As Oscar Wilde said, “all at once, summer collapsed into fall”.
This past weekend, my husband and I enjoyed a brief vacation to one of our state parks. Upon our return, I set out to the garden to gather what’s left of our Roma tomatoes. My basil remains green and fragrant. Together they made a sumptuous roasted tomato basil soup-filling our stomachs and leaving a heavenly aroma throughout the house. Unfortunately, it’s likely the last of my impromptu garden creations until spring.
Fall is certainly upon us. A colorful tinge to the tree leaves attests to this fact. Farmers busily harvest fields of soybeans and corn. Oh, how I love to hear the wind this time of year as it rustles through the brittle, dry corn stalks. A sudden gust of air loosened hickory nuts and they showered down on our heads as we hiked the park trails a few days ago. Soon we’ll cuddle by the warmth of our wood stove to ward off the night’s chill. We witness these signs of change all around us.
Even though I relish the fall season with it’s brilliant reds and golds, I resist the transition. Change is difficult. My summer routines must adjust for the cooler climate and shorter days. Better make sure the furnace is in working order and grab a warm jacket before walking out the door. No more writing on my front porch on long, warm evenings once north winds decide to blow. I accept the cycle of the seasons with reluctance.
The same holds true for the cycles of life. Childhood rapidly changes into young adulthood. Middle age sets in then transitions into old age. Each season has it’s blessings and promise. However, moving gracefully from one stage to the next is challenging for most of us.
I’m well into middle age now with more aches and stiffness in my joints then I like to admit. I can’t quite accomplish the same tasks at the same speed anymore. Don’t get me wrong, I’m still very active. We hiked and biked in hilly southern Indiana a few days ago. But my body feels the difference. All at once, my summer collapsed into fall.
Yet in my heart, I know this season like the others holds its own promise. Playing with my grandchildren and watching them grow is such a blessing. Now when I see my children express frustration over situations, I can say with confidence, ‘this too will pass.’ In this stage, I can enjoy taking long walks and reading good books without constant interruptions. This is my fall season of life and it’s good-very good.
As an old man, King Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 3:1, “for everything there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven.” Every day is a gift whether it’s “a time to weep or a time to laugh.” God has made everything beautiful in its time. Don’t move ahead the clock while in your youth or attempt to turn it back in old age. Enjoy every season for the blessing and promise it holds.
Young people take pride in their strength, but the gray hairs of wisdom are even more beautiful.
Proverbs 20:29 Contemporary English Bible
