Turning .....

Autumn might just have arrived in Virginia. The leaves are turning heads with their golden, brassy redhead shows; urbanites have decorated their steps with a myriad of pumpkins and gourds; and the industrious squirrels are running the fences and highwires with their cheeks stuffed with acorns. There's a comfort in Autumn that extends beyond our sweaters and boots. The heady carefree days of summer holidays gives way to familiar routines and faces and we settle back into belonging. Equality arrives as we hide under oversized woolens and eat stews with Octoberfest beer and pumpkin lattes.

At this time of year the natural landscape creeps indoors and pulls up a chair. Our design and culinary palettes become infused with muted orange fillings and golden crusts with bursts of purple to remind us of His royal presence. This season is less Hallmark and more His Mark. For me, Autumn is the season when God shows off the most. Though to be fair the still-life of winter, the resurrection of spring and the glory of summer, are all pretty spectacular too, but I digress.

At the start of a new year (come on, we all know the year starts in September!) nature begins with turning, falling, harvesting and dying. The sunflowers that pointed the way to the Son now bend their heads in reverent submission. What once provided shade and shadow leaves us exposed to the elements. The land surrenders its precious crops as we shore up our storehouses for the barren months. And the chrysanthemums give us one last hoorah before disappearing into the deep blue silence of winter.

I wonder if this changing landscape can provide pointers for reflection on our inner landscape as the new year begins?
As the leaves fall .....
Like Adam and Eve in Eden, what have we kept hidden under leaves of control, pride, arrogance, striving, people-pleasing or fabulousness that we are ashamed off? What liberty would come if those leaves fell and we were metaphorically naked before God and man?

As the Harvest is gathered ....
What did we sow our time, energy and resources into earlier this year that is now ready to reap? Which relationships have borne great fruit and which yielded a poor harvest because they weren't in the right light?

As the flowers die ....
Which promises and dreams must retreat to hibernation, and which issues is it time to let fall to the ground and die? How do we still see beauty in barrenness and hope in bare twigs? Can we believe for spring?

So, when the dappled light of the low Autumn sun beckons us outside to kick the leaves and feel the cooler breeze, let's truly let the outer landscape inside.