My dear friends, I do hope you are well and enjoying these first days leading into autumn with their cooler evening and early morning hours.
I think we may have an early fall and, hopefully, a much more colorful one than last year.
Some of the earliest trees are already beginning to turn loose their leaves while the green of others, still tightly hanging on, are beginning to show a slight tinge of the vibrant gold and red soon to come.
A short prelude to the glorious brushstrokes of bold color that will soon paint the mountainsides like an artist’s great canvas.
Don’t count me in that number of folks who say that fall of the year makes them sad, or even despondent! I love it!
The slowing down; the changing colors, the smell of smoke in the air from mounds of burning leaves; they all make my heart sing.
Ah, it is such a pleasant, peaceful time to rest and recoup from the fast-paced, hot, sunny days of summer.
I love sitting by an outdoor fire enjoying its warmth and a cup of hot cider; watching the fire and listening to the crackle and pop of the flames sending up an array of sparks resembling tiny shooting stars.
will be spending the colder months snoozing away while little ones grow in the warmth of their bellies.
Nature’s abundance of mountain flora will grab onto this time to nestle down into the dark soil of the earth for a spell … resting as they accept closure to this part of their life cycle.
I remember this time of year and driving up Hwy. 321 through Cosby, I would gaze in wonder at the many rows of apple trees, their heavy limbs bending over nearly touching the ground, laden with ripe juicy apples.
Nothing makes my mouth water quite like the anticipation of chomping into a sweet juicy apple.
Most folks’ choice is the Red Delicious or Gala, but my favorite is the crisp Fuji apples of October. I can’t wait!
As I savor their sweet taste, even in my thoughts, I become acutely aware of the life cycle of all creation, and God’s never-ending provision and sustenance.
An apple — was it really the fruit that tempted both Eve as well as Adam (he could have said ‘no’ you know) in the Garden of Eden? The Scriptures don’t tell us! So, I ponder, and I venture … it just might have been!!!
In such simple things as an apple, we are reminded that God’s great love is constant. He provides and cares for us every day. And like David, we pray … “Keep me as the apple of thine eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings.” Psalm 17:8 Oh Lord, let it be so. Amen and Amen!
