It seemed just yesterday that my world was full of the panorama of fall colors, but now my world was covered in white. The white of the first winter snow. As I walked through the woods, the trail beneath my feet no longer was soft dirt…now it was wet, crunchy snow. I could see my breath in the air.  It was a sudden transformation, as nature seemingly had reversed itself. As I walked the familiar path – that now looked unfamiliar – it was hard to imagine that a few short weeks before I was surrounded by green grass, colorful flowers, and the hum of insects. Where had it all gone?  Watching this process – the reverse of what seems irreversible – is quite amazing to me.  As a native of southern California, I never had experienced the reversal of seasons until we moved to Illinois and we experienced our first, real, cold and snow-laden winter. And then, of course, winter was transformed and replaced.  So the white of snow was transformed into the bright c...

With the passing of Labor Day, we enter into a time of transition. The seasonal shift from summer to fall begins to take place.  It’s often the little things that catch my attention. In our flower garden some bushes have come and gone, in our vegetable garden less produce is being picked, and apples are beginning to fall from the trees.  If somehow I miss these obvious signs, school starts for the kids of our community this week. Change is in the works!  This time of transition has caused me to reflect on the upcoming season. Fall seems to be a particularly full time of year for many people. School, many sports and other activities gear up when the calendar turns to September. The fall also includes special Harvest or Halloween activities, Thanksgiving, and then quickly heads into the Christmas season.  So I wonder, what does my heart feel as it faces this unfolding season? I can feel a sense of adrenaline rush: so much to do; so little time. I can fee...