The Eyes Of Fall

Something about the colors of fall make my steps lighter, fills me with a sense of well being, and permeates my spirit with joy. It causes me to slow down, inhale the crisp air deep into my lungs, and puts a smile on my face. I drive around with an intense awareness of God's beauty in creation. I marvel at the colors on the mountains; in the trees; in the green, green fields and the yellow, yellows of the soy crops. I am amazed at the multiple colors in a changing tree with turning leaves of green, red, yellow and orange . . . all at the same time, in the same tree! I realize in this season, perhaps more than any other, just how spectacular God is. Just how marvelous is His creation and just how big and grand His works are! I find myself in awe. A place I rarely find myself anymore. To be awe-struck. You know that place don't you? Where you are stopped in your tracks, wide-eyed, jaw-dropped, speechless, you can't fill your eyes enough, and all that comes out is a whisper . . . w-o-w!

What a shame. The season of fall is so short. Why is it that I'm not awe-struck by God's handiwork all year long? What has captured my daily life in such a way, that I seldom notice the beauty of God's creation . . . EVERY season? Oh, don't get me wrong. I love spring nearly as well. O.K. . . I'll admit, I'm not crazy about summer and winter . . . oh, yeah . . . I like that too! But, I don't find myself breathing as deeply, and I don't find myself staring in awe at a tree! I don't find myself pondering deeply about God, when I wipe the sweat from my brow.

So, what is it about ME, that causes me to not look as deeply, with the same appreciation for my Creator, every day, and every season of the year? Why am I able to carry on with "daily living" and not notice or take into account the marvelousness of the one who created and is creating?

Isaiah 42:20 says

"You have seen many things, but you do not observe them. Your ears are open, but none hears."

My prayer today is; Lord, God . . . give me eyes to see YOU daily. Give me ears to hear You speak! Isn't it the greatest cry of my heart to be an observer of the things and the ways and the beauty of God? YES!! And yet, I realize that it's up to me to look intently until I see, and to listen quietly and patiently UNTIL I hear! And, since patience is a fruit of the spirit, along with self-control; then I already have the ability to accomplish the task of having eyes to see and ears to hear.

And so . . . I realize that I must practice being a "fall" person every day and not lie down to rest until I can claim that I've seen the Lord!