Spring-ing into autumn

Edging our Seattle driveway in fall

Most of the blogs I read are from the northern hemisphere. They are full of "Fall is coming!" and "Tips to make the most of the end of summer," and "The many moods of autumn." Friends are harvesting apples, baking pumpkin muffins, and using up their bumper crops of zucchini in chocolate cakes and spiralized noodles.

I also read updates from Australia. There, writers and photographers are recording the advent of spring. They are excited about the emerging leaves and blossoms. They chatter about getting the pool ready for summer. They advertise short-sleeved dresses in bright florals on crisp white backgrounds.

Spring in Seattle

It's a bit bizarre really. Spring is my favorite season. I'm choosing to celebrate spring twice a year, starting in September in Southern countries like New Zealand and South Africa. Meanwhile autumn is overtaking Europe and Canada.

I plan to enjoy a second round of springtime as it creeps over the northern landscape with tulip buds, unfurling leaves, and creeks overflowing with snow run-off.

We relish the endless summer - 85o days and 67o nights. We're near the end of the dry season and dust blows into the cracks of the old marble tiles on the floor. We keep our feet clean by wearing flip-flops inside and out, swapping "outdoor" to "indoor" shoes at the porch step.

The sun brightens the bedroom curtains about 5:30am. The noon sun dries out the leaves scattered across the lawn.

Sweet summer in the tropics

Once school is out, children chirp and call to each other. The afternoon winds sweep high clouds overhead and tickle the leaves on the guava tree by the porch. The little boys toss their kites up to be caught on the breeze. They snag on the electrical wires and wrap themselves around tree branches.

Darkness falls before 6pm. The neighborhood smells of curries and sembal chili sauce before all goes quiet about 10pm.

All God does is good and the world is a beautiful place.

Read more:
*Incline your ear, and come to me; listen, so that you may live. Isaiah 55:3

 *Do not spurn us, for your name’s sake; do not dishonor your glorious throne. Jeremiah 14:21 ESV

*Jesus asks, “But who do you say that I am?” Mark 8:29 ESV

*If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free. John 8:31–32

*Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Philippians 2:3-4 ESV

*Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. James 1:2-6  NIV

*The God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 1 Peter 5:10 NIV 

Moravian Prayer: Author of our faith, let us hear you when you impart your truth to us through your word. Let us live faithfully as your disciples, listening to your will for our lives, and freely following where you lead.

Forgiving Lord, thank you for your grace. Thank you for not turning away from us when we stumble in our walks with you. Let us look to you for truth and steadfastness. Amen.

C. S. Lewis, from A Grief Observed:

Heaven will solve our problems, but not, I think, by showing us subtle reconciliations between all our apparently contradictory notions. The notions will all be knocked from under our feet. We shall see that there never was any problem.