New Life

Fall is my favorite season. The change in the leaves, the cool, brisk air, the beautiful shades of red, orange, and yellow that surround us, the smell of bonfires and cider, the anticipation of holidays on the horizon, and time with family. It's a chance to put past seasons of life to rest and look forward to what is to come. That being said, there is something equally special about spring. I appreciate this time of year more than any other. No matter how heartbreaking life's circumstances are, spring brings forth a new hope for tomorrow. It awakens my soul. It represents new beginnings. It's a time to see beautiful new life erupting from death, all that is around you that was previously dormant now coming awake. There is a deep beauty in the colors of spring, and in the order of life unfolding before us. The flowers and trees blooming, the bees pollinating, the rivers and lakes previously frozen in time now trickling with new life and purpose.

Sometimes life throws things at you, both good and bad, that you weren't ready for. Nature has a way of helping you process, of helping you see things clearly. I like to spend a lot of time in nature. I can spend hours walking through the wet and muddy trails during a spring rain, watching, thinking, processing, admiring. The rain is like God's cleansing. He washes everything around us clean, just as He desires to wash us clean within. Drops of water fall in such a way that they make a beautiful melody as they collide with the river and the trees. A song from God Himself, maybe? A song specifically for me? I like to think so. God is a beautiful artist, and spending time in His creation has a way of helping you to understand and appreciate your own circumstances, good, bad, and everything in between.

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens. Ecclesiastes 3:1

Questions: What season of life are you going through right now? What is God showing you during this season? Is He preparing you for a "new beginning" in some area of your life?