Autumn

Leaf by leaf, branch by branch, Colorado’s aspen trees are turning. Before we know it, entire forests will be ablaze in yellow, orange and red. Then, suddenly, this annual symphony of color will be over. Like Carl Sandburg’s fog, autumn comes on little cat feet. It sits on silent haunches, then moves on. Winter will be with us again and we will wait for whatever it has to offer.

I often think that life is like that, a series of seasons lit with brightness and light while others are dark and silent. I am reminded of the Latin phrase, “mutantur omnia nos et mutamur in illis.” All things change and we change with them. The time will come when we no longer are willing to change. Then it will be time for us too to move on.

In the meantime, of course, we smile as we consider the beauty of God's creation. We will not wonder, since hearts are tough, whether a lifetime is long enough.