Like a comfortable chair, so inviting
or a child’s stuffed toy, gently loved
the autumn landscape is so precious,
the faded days of summer, spun to gold.
I like the golden light,
the shimmer of holidays soon to be,
the threads of yesterday, woven
into my Thanksgiving heart.
There are the pumpkins, which I treasure,
as if jolly elves put them on display,
here and there, mischief-makers on holiday.
The fields are lovely, drenched in sunlight,
full of promise
that the Autumnal world
is exactly as it should be.
The leaves, they fall so softly
that I cannot hear a sound;
there is only the wind in the trees
and a trace of what was once, a summer breeze.
Oh, the seasons, how they shift
the days that flicker and are gone;
all that remains is a golden glow, a remembrance
to pause and reflect, before moving on.
There is a certain comfort that comes when the seasons change. Once again, everything is altogether new, and yet, we know the signs so well from seasons past. In Autumn, the cooler temperatures usher in a world of new beginnings as the leaves begin to change color, and pumpkins dot the landscape. The remnants of summer remain as the flower gardens boast their last beautiful blooms. There are days that are still quite warm, and it feels like summer…at least, that is how it is in the state of Virginia! Some days, I forget that summer has slipped away; the sky is so blue, and the breeze, so lovely.
In life, each season offers us something different. Sometimes, we look back at a season, and we think, “Wow, that was the best season of my life!” And then you think to yourself…”I wish I could go back to that time again…”
That is not how life works. Things are always changing, and many times the changes can be very hard. The Bible tells us in Ecclesiastes 3:1 that, “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven.” God does have a master plan, a blueprint composed in heaven in regard to these seasons. The seasons are not random, although we may not understand them fully.
Sometimes, in reflection upon these seasons, I think of a starry night. The moon and the stars light up the night; otherwise, we would be in total darkness. There are millions of stars in the sky; these beacons that shine for us in the deep, dark night are so very awesome, so breathtakingly beautiful. It is their light that makes them so wondrous; it is their light that compels us to look up.
If we are wise, we seek God in every season; He is our only ‘star’ to follow, our light in the darkness. This is the light that will bring us joy, even in the toughest seasons, even in the worst of times. The night might be very dark indeed, but with God’s help, we will endure. We will find our way.
If we look at life as a beautiful secret garden, and all we need is the right key to step inside and experience the mysterious wonder of it all, what would that key be?
I think we would all agree that one essential key of life would be trust…we must trust that God will see us through not only the good times, but the hard times as well. The seasons of life come and go, like the ocean tides. There are moments of bliss, moments of heartache, moments of pure amazement. It is a puzzle to ponder, each puzzle piece essential to the whole. We all know how it feels to lose a puzzle piece…we need every piece to create a picture. (The thing is, God already knows how the puzzle will look upon completion.) There are no missing pieces, no half-full box of pieces that don’t create the desired masterpiece. Even the pieces that don’t seem ‘quite right’, all fit together beautifully in the end. When God crafts something, you can be sure it is better than ‘good enough’. It is awesome. It is sheer perfection. His puzzles are crafted one by one, no duplicates, original works of art, stamped with His Holy and everlasting light.
Sometimes, the ‘trust’ key is an elusive key on our key ring. It is the most fundamental of keys, but we cling to our fears, our doubts, our own way of making things right. It never seems to work out as well when we try to do it all by ourselves, without asking for God’s help and direction. Still, we often persist, trying our best to figure everything out, as if maybe, we can sort out all those puzzle pieces pretty well…shapes, colors, sizes, neat little piles that kind of ‘work’. If you try hard enough, you can even fit pieces together that are not a perfect ‘fit’…
What often happens when we try to go it alone, to do everything our own way? We seemingly get locked out of the garden’s greatest treasures. We stand in fear at the gate and our hands tremble as we search frantically for the right key. We think we have all the right answers, and suddenly we are not exactly sure what the right answer is. It looks very peaceful inside the garden, full of beautiful blooms and winding paths…each path looks so lovely.
The right key was there all along, the perfect fit for the keyhole of the garden door and for our very hearts as well. This is the key that opens the door every time. This is how faith blossoms within us. We trust in the darkness when we cannot see what lies on the other side of that garden gate. Peace fills our souls when we trust that God is always there for us…there are no ifs, no buts, no maybes. His love is real. His love for us is forever and ever.
Yes, the seasons change. The garden of life is never quite the same from one day to the next. It is however, a mysterious garden full of wonder. Who knows what lies down one path, and where that path may lead? God does know all the passages by heart. He understands the seasons. He knows the best growing times for everything in the garden.
We can trust God with the most exquisite blooms. In His garden, light and shadow, sunshine and rain showers all work together in a harmonious way. Like stars that light the night sky, His love gives rise to hope…this is the hope we cling to every day, and in every season. The seasons, they come and they go, but the love is eternal…
Ecclesiastes 3: 16-17: He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.”
Beautiful message. 🙂
Thank you! Wishing you blessings in this autumnal season!
Ready for autumn!
Yes!!! A new season is upon us, and it is a wonderful thing!
What a great reflection Linda. It is so easy to become consumed with a million changing things around us, especially in the fall. To relax into trusting the one who created it all (including the seasons); so crucial. Then one can walk the gardens of life in hope and peace. Enjoy those moments.
I hope you enjoy these moments as well! God’s peace does change how we see the world…it intensifies the beauty of all things in nature. His handiwork is everywhere when we are looking for it. Suddenly, it is as if we see the smallest things in a grand way…it may be a fish jumping, or a rabbit that runs across our path, a last rose that blooms before winter’s frost. All things that God has made have a grandeur all their own; we must endlessly be aware and on the lookout. In this way, few things are ever ordinary; we find a glimmer of heaven in our midst.
This is a beautiful time of the year here, too. And there is some beauty to be found in every season.
Yes! It is a wonderful season! I look forward to seeing your photographs…you capture the magic of each season so well!
Thank you, Linda.😊
I’m a puzzler and also prone to metaphor when enjoying God’s creation, so this really resonates with me. Also currently reading Ecclesiastes. Thank you for this lovely, edifying post, Linda. 🙂
You are welcome! 🙂 This passage from Ecclesiastes is one of my favorites. There is a time for everything in life. It is a shame that we often feel rushed, as if we must always accomplish so much all at once. But when we watch children, or the elderly, we see that the concept of time itself, is a very different thing depending on our age. Children celebrate the passage of time, and the elderly often savor the passage of time. We have much to learn about life from children and the elderly…indeed, there is time enough for many things, time enough to both celebrate and savor, the moments of our lives.
stunning shots and love your poem, so glad you are including them!
We are experiencing a rather hot spring, a timely warning that summer will be a scorcher. Still it’s cool enough to get out and enjoy nature 🙂
Thank you! We have so many leaves on the ground now…Our days are warm, but the nights are much cooler. Enjoy these days in nature…I love to see your awesome photographs. There are so many beautiful places in your corner of the world!
absolutely, we can find them in most places when we go exploring 🙂
🙂 🙂 🙂
Praise God for his willingness–eagerness even–to be involved in our paltry little lives. You’ve highlighted many of the ways he enters in to impact our lives for the better, as he provides guidance, joy, help, direction, peace, and more–for all the seasons of our lives. Hallelujah!
Yes! He is there for us in every season! I hope this month of September has been a good one for you…here it is, almost October!
Linda, this is a wonderful post heralding the arrival of fall. It’s the “golden glow” of autumn that I enjoy most. Thank you for reminder of the beauty that lies within each season of the garden of life when we trust God.
There certainly is a ‘golden glow’. 🙂 Wishing you blessings in these autumnal days!
I LOVE your autumn poem. I’ve always appreciated having four seasons because it feels like I’m getting a second change at life each time the season changes.
Thank you1 I love the change of seasons also. There is always something to look forward to…a first snow in winter, the daffodils in springtime, autumn’s festive foliage, and the resplendent wonder of summer. The seasons do inspire us; change can be a very good thing! 🙂
Trust is made easier through tenderly written words such as you have penned here, Linda. These past months have been a great journey of trust – how much I’ve learned! And yet, I know only too well the journey of learning trust never ends on this earth. Often, I might feel as if I don’t seem to have learned anything but it’s actually that with each passing season, we are taken deeper and deeper into lessons on trust.
You are so right…we are always taken deeper and deeper into layers of trust. In that way, our walk with God is always one in which we must endlessly seek His council and take His hand moment to moment. I have learned through the years to really understand the ‘daily walk’. I have always been a planner, but God has taught me much in that department. It is His plans that are important, and only through constant and daily understanding, can I go forward. It is often hard for me, because although I enjoy the daily moments in life, I am also always ‘thinking ahead’. Time was always very important to me, as in, ‘What time is it???” “What do I need to do/should be doing right this minute??? Sometimes, the best thing to increase our understanding is to ponder this verse: “Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:!0). It is quietude with God that teaches us all things. (I have learned that I do not have to have all the answers ‘ahead of time’.) 🙂
Like you, I too am an inveterate planner 😁. I guess that’s why God regularly speaks to me through Psalm 46: 10 to remind me that He must be first and everything in my life.
Yes! God is in control…all we need do is lean upon Him for understanding and direction. God’s peace is always there for us; with open arms, we must receive it.”
I also like the changing seasons, because it reminds me of the rhythm of life and I do take comfort in that. Even when I’m not ready to let go of the old season, I find myself welcoming the new one! As for trust, I agree. That can be the hardest part of faith, because we want to make sure everything will be okay and it’s almost against our nature to let go of our impulse to rush in and try to control everything. Yet there are many times when we have no choice but to trust that God will take care of us. Maybe not exactly the way we had in mind, but he is always there. And it’s in our times of trouble that we can feel him the most, if we let ourselves!
God’s peace does flow like a river; His love sustains us through everything. The more we abide in Him, the greater the peace that permeates our lives. You are so right…in the times of trouble, He is right there with us. We are so very blessed with the love of our Heavenly Father!
Beautiful images & verse, Linda. I find the change from Summer to Fall sweet, as well. Time marches on, but what a beautiful parade it is! ☀️
Thank you! It is a beautiful parade…the leaves changing color, and that wonderful autumn light. 🙂
Autumn is definitely coming and I can’t wait for it to get here properly! We’re supposed to be having some more warm weather this week in the UK but hopefully after that it’ll start cooling down properly.
I hope you have a wonderful autumnal season! Your house in the country is the perfect place to be this time of year! 🙂
What a special message and lovely poem and photos! I am ready for fall!
Thank you! I have always loved the fall fairs…pumpkins on display and all sorts of seasonal crafts. Nature’s bounty lends itself to lovely wreaths and garlands.
My favorite season!!!!
Great Is Thy Faithfulness comes to mind. Autumn has always been my favorite season. God’s grip – Alan
Autumn is a season rich in blessings! It reminds us that change is a part of life; each change can bring about a whole new start, full of wondrous things. 🙂
A gorgeous poem and photos, Linda. Autumn is one of my favorite (four) seasons. Lol. I love the cooler temps and of course the colors. Your reflection on change was moving, and to me autumn always seems like a time to winddown and take stock after the frenetic energy of summer. I hope your autumn continues to be crisp, clear, and beautiful.
Thank you! I hope you have a wonderful autumn as well. We are having a warm, summer-like day today! My pumpkins are on the porch and the Mums are all in bloom!
Sounds lovely. What a beautiful scene.
Wonderful poem! I particularly love these lines: “the autumn landscape is so precious,
the faded days of summer, spun to gold.” What beautiful imagery which captures this time of year so well.
Thank you! These autumnal days pass quickly. I made my first apple pie from apples we picked at Carter’s Mountain. We went on a hayride, and it was so beautiful at the mountaintop!
They do pass quick. Sounds like you are enjoying them. 🙂
🙂 🙂 🙂
Linda, I appreciate your outlook with the world around us. As your poetic verses emphasize, the autumn season remains a very special time for many. It is my favorite season, and I always feel more energized during this time of year. Blessings to you and your family as the final weeks of fall’s color parade pass by.
Wishing you blessings as well! We have had some rain and lots of leaves have come down! My grandchildren were here yesterday, running through the fallen leaves, and playing hide and seek. (We have to hide too!) 🙂