Seasons in these parts

In these parts, summer slaps you across the face with a sweaty palm when you walk out the door each morning. It often comes across as a bully and makes you fearful of going outside. The air is soupy and thick and you sweat while standing still. In these parts, summer is grueling.

So there is no doubt that people in these parts welcome autumn with open arms. Because summer is long and it beats us down. Autumn is our saving grace.

In late August we receive hints of autumn. It pokes its head out from behind the curtain and teases us.  But for a fleeting moment, the humid air becomes crisp and we flip back and forth as to whether or not we should wear a long sleeve shirt.

So on some of those late summer nights we wear our hoodies and sweat shirts as if to encourage autumn:

“Come on in. Make yourself at home. We missed you.”

Autumn brings a new color scheme and our senses are reintroduced to nostalgic sounds and smells. Orange, brown and gray. Leaves burning. Wind whistling. The roar of a football stadium. This is a season of change. In these parts, autumn is exciting.

Even though it’s exciting and refreshing, autumn doesn’t last long. In these parts it’s less of a full season and more of a buffer between summer and winter. It enters slowly and leaves quickly. But we relish in it and make the most of it.

We love the change and the relief that autumn brings and we remember that a change of season doesn’t always have to do with the weather. Our lives are seasonal. Some are longer and some are shorter. Some are exciting and some are tough but thats the way God designs it.

We go through different seasons to learn and grow and to live and celebrate. There is a purpose to every one.

So when your season slaps you in the face, remember that there is a better one right around the corner.

Because in these parts, the tough times don’t last forever. Our saving grace is just a season away.