The Colors of Fall

I love Fall.  The colors that God uses to express himself this time of year literally take my breath away.  Whenever I drive anywhere, there is a surprise around every corner.  And the street I live on changes daily with its mixture of green, yellow, orange, red, burgundy, and brown.  Combined with the background of blue sky we have been enjoying, it is truly a sight to behold.

I also love the change of weather that the Fall brings.  In western Washington, we had an unusually dry summer this year.  While we didn’t have a lot of oppressively hot temperatures, we maintained for several months an average temperature that was higher than usual.  Every day seemed to be the same.  Call me a complainer, but I have to admit I got tired of the sameness.  I like the change of seasons, and I have always liked the season of Fall the best.

Maybe it’s the upcoming holidays; maybe it’s wearing warm clothes again; maybe it’s keeping my windows closed and enjoying the privacy of my home; or maybe it’s everything combined.  But I’m very thankful to live in an area that enjoys a mild change of seasons – enough change to appreciate the differences without the difficulties of more drastic changes.

I like apples and apple cider.  I like pumpkins.  I like Fall spices and decorations.  I like wearing a jacket.  I like the coolness of night.  And I love the creativity of God that he allows us to enjoy with every leaf that changes.  The weather is supposed to change tomorrow: the rain and the gray of cloudy skies is returning to the Pacific Northwest.  The colors won’t look as bright and beautiful tomorrow, so I’m enjoying them today and thanking God for his gift.  And I’m wondering just how mind-boggling the new heaven and new earth will be someday, since the beauty of this current, fallen world is too much to fully take in!

“God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.”          Genesis 1:31

Let’s start this Fall with an “attitude of gratitude” for all of God’s gifts – especially the gifts of color, seasons, and his creativity in creation.  Some worship the creation itself; but let’s remember that, regardless of how wonderful the creation is, it is nothing in comparison to the Creator, who alone is worthy of our praise.  “Come, let us bow down in worship; let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.” (Psalm 95:6)