Covering the ground all around us lays a thick blanket of leaves. The landscape has changed from a canvas of green to a colorful masterpiece of orange, yellow, maroon, violet, and golden brown. My eyes take to the fields and mountains around us, especially as we drive. The beauty of nature is a wonder to me. I love how the seasons change, getting our attention in one form or another.
Southwest Virginia, my original hometown, is one of the greatest galleries when it comes to showcasing the seasons. I have always enjoyed visiting places like the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Cascades, Natural Bridge, Hungry Mother State Park, Fancy Gap, Grayson Highlands, and many other attractions surrounding us. Now, we have come to love not only those, but also many others as we frequently find places to explore. We delight in spontaneous drives and hiking, especially in the fall when temperatures are comfortable, and the leaves are bursting with colors.
Landscapes of Life
The changing of seasons reminds me of life and how we also go in and out of seasons. Ecclesiastes 3:1 is one of my favorite scriptures, for there truly is ‘a time and a purpose for everything under the Heavens’. In other words, there is a reason for every season that we go through. Honestly, it is very difficult to understand why we go through some of the seasons that we do, meaning difficult seasons, but I do not believe we are meant to understand everything. Years ago, as I was writing, this thought came to me . . . God’s love is not a mystery, even when His plan is. This perspective reminds us to have faith through the seasons.
Like the many colors of the leaves on the trees in autumn, we are changed through the love and the mysteries of God to become who He wants us to be. Yes, the wind may come and at times we may feel tossed to and fro, but if we trust in the hand of the Creator to continuously give us a safe landing, we will be able to trust Him through every season, and not be tossed to and fro in our faith (as Ephesians 4:14 instructs). Instead, we can remain steadfast, trusting in our Lord and Savior's promises through it all. Even in very difficult seasons, we can remember the word, 'what the enemy means for harm, God will work it for our good' as in the example of Joseph's story in Genesis 5:20. Like a seed that has been buried through the harshest of weather that eventually grows and blooms, we too will grow and see the light... perhaps even season after season.
Victory is that much sweeter when the season before was beyond harsh. Appreciation is great when it comes from deep places.
Some sweet day my friend, we will be in an all-glorious, everlasting, beautiful season that doesn't require any harsh endings... Just eternal peace and joy.
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