For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.”

Ecclesiastes 3:1

Autumn is one of my favorite times of the year. I love the freshness of the air, rugging up in warm sweaters and enjoying the brilliant colors of the changing leaves. Sacramento is stunning this time of year. As the book of Ecclesiastes says, “For everything there is a season” and this is a sweet season. So when you look at the bright red, orange and yellow leaves as you go on walks or drives around town, think about the glorious sermon that nature is preaching about God’s beautiful presence.

The woods is shining this morning.
Red, gold and green, the leaves
lie on the ground, or fall,
or hang full of light in the air still.
Perfect in its rise and in its fall, it takes
the place it has been coming to forever.
It has not hastened here, or lagged.
See how surely it has sought itself,
its roots passing lordly through the earth.
See how without confusion it is
all that it is, and how flawless
its grace is. Running or walking, the way
is the same. Be still. Be still.
“He moves your bones, and the way is clear.”
— Wendell Berry