I love Fall. I won’t lie, it’s my favorite season. While summer means spontaneity and get-togethers on the regular, fall permits a slower and more intentional pace.
Have you ever noticed the way you feel when the seasons start to change? As a new season begins to dawn, a renewed hope deep within begins to emerge. The bright colors of the leaves, the crisp wind and the changing temperatures all remind us of our aliveness.
Best of all, a changing season helps us realize and embrace the truth that we aren’t destined to remain the same. Change is always possible. God’s creation is a gift to us and reflects our own growth. While He remains the same yesterday, today and always, we are beckoned to grow and flourish.
We can start that process of change by mirroring what nature shows us this time of year. It's a season of slowing down and reserving energy. Trees shed their leaves, grasses and plants go dormant and animals begin storing up for the months ahead.
We can find value in doing the same thing. Fall is a time for introspection, granting yourself permission to insulate against the chaos of the world. To store up those things that are most precious to you, that give you life, and to let go of the things that no longer serve you. These “things” may be habits, material items or even people. It’s your answer to uncover.
The Bible reminds us that, like nature, our lives are made up of seasons. So remember that however you are feeling right now is simply that, a period of time. It’s not forever. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 tells us:
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.
What season do you find yourself in, and what can you learn? Take time during this period of transition to determine what you most value and whether the way you are living your life reflects that. If you find that it doesn’t, what needs to change? And like nature, nourishment is critical. Where are you getting yours?