God's Gift of Autumn Grace

I love the natural colors of the fall season and stand in awe of the marvelous creative attributes of our glorious Savior and God, Jesus Christ. This reminds me of a wonderful “gift” God recently gave me. Struck with the awe-inspiring countryside of Germany, I paused at my study window, to drink in the audacious panorama of Malborn. In clear view are terraced hills and brief valleys unfolding into expansive fields peppered with fresh bales of golden hay. Immediately, I sense a pleasant whiff of burning oak and cedar wafting from my neighbors’ fireplaces. Beyond the yard, brilliant color variations of rich auburns, cinnamon-bronze, russet yellows, and orange hues christen the hillside trees. Clearly, the gorgeous German autumn has blushed! Like a spellbinding orator, she emerges to introduce the seasonal transition with fanfare. In the distant forests of these gentle rolling hills, I noticed four quaint villages nestled like mother birds in their nests. Cresting the horizon, churning windmills harvest the gentle breeze while reaching high into the temperate skies. All of this tranquil majesty is a refreshing retreat to me. Life is more than drop-dead deadlines, cranky computers, annoying cell phones and generally anxious days. Oh, how one deep drink of this God-given natural splendor relieves my tension-ridden soul!