THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2023 - FALL

 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2023 FALL

The seasons come and go. This year, summer seemed impossibly long - maybe even frustrating impossibly long. I pulled into my comfort zone and sat on my chair too much. 

In the big scheme of things, we know that seasons will follow other seasons.  Fall follows summer; winter follows fall; spring follows winter, and summer follows spring.

People also have seasons.  

Ecclesiastes 3:1-9 says:

“There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heavens:
a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.

Regarding human seasons, I suppose I’m in fall - heading towards winter.

I was young once (I’ve used the statement “I was born at a young age” a few times).  That was like spring.  Spring lasted through college. There was growth all around me.  I got taller.  I gained weight.  I got smarter.  I saw others grow and move out on similar paths.  And I loved it.

I took my first job in 1969. I moved in early summer. In terms of seasons, summer was my most extended season.  I matured (there might be some doubt there). I found my niches.  I had a family.  I had several jobs, and each one paid more than the last.  I was an adult.

In 2016, I moved into fall.  I retired.  But like a butterfly, I was entering a new season - a little like a caterpillar - becoming a cocoon and finally something new and different.  And, I started on a new path of love - a path of “LOVE WINS.”

*****

Humans are finite - as are all things that I know.  We are born, we live, we die.  The scientists say that someday our planet will die.  (I don’t anticipate being around for that!!!).

We have a spring, summer, fall, winter, and death.   Like the verses above, “There is a time for everything.”

A friend and I were talking about those who die early the other day - maybe it was stupidity - drugs (the latest being fentanyl), alcohol, cigarettes, or suicide.  

Or maybe it was an accidental death - a car accident, fire, earthquake, or other accident.

*****

I am in my “fall” season (by my estimation).  I am enjoying my fall. There might be a few things better, but I love who I am and where I’m going.  There might have been things I could have done differently (like taking better care of my teeth and body).

But, to my reasoning, I need to enjoy my fall.  Trees don’t just lose their leaves and then fall over dead.  They go through an elaborate stage - a stage of changing colors.  

Some trees have brilliant colors, and others have muted colors (pine trees don’t lose their leaves (needles). 

I want spectacular leaves - bright reds, oranges, and yellows.  It’s not that I want to be a showoff (I’ve done that and got the trophies and threw them away). I want to enrich other people and be a beacon along the road.  The old Army slogan flashes through me: “Be all you can be.”  

I know some people whose fall season has been short and very muted.  Let’s see - how many hours of television can I watch this week?  How many hours of solitaire playing can I do?  How can I still have value?  I need to try to keep my comfort zone open and growing.  

Two months ago, I got a note from a company helping people get TEDx talks. I can work towards that goal.  I love to write, and I love to speak.  

I have another goal - to LOVE and to let LOVE WIN. 

There is a spring coming into my life!!!  And a fall, and LOVE!!!

Life can be exciting - if we let it!!!

LOVE WINS

LOVE TRANSFORMS

KAREN ANNE WHITE, © SEPTEMBER 21, 2023