Changing Seasons

I moved to Terrell on July 3rd.  In the weeks to follow, I was well aware that we were setting records in the region of temperatures over 90 degrees.  We didn't get this kind of heat in the mountains.  The forecasters say it is a trend, many years in the making, and will probably continue for awhile.

I rationalized, that maybe winters will be more tame compared to the mountains.  We will see.

This past weekend was a turning point of sorts. It was the first morning in the 30's in the fall (the week before had some warm days that were above average for this time of the year).  There was a light frost on Monday, with seasonal weather during the day.  It is Fall, though there are still lots of green leaves to be seen.

Will there be some warm days ahead?  Probably.  Will we see some chillier weather?  For sure.  Will winter be here before we know it. I suspect so.

All this to say, the seasons are changing again.  It is something we can count on, about every equinox.  The days shorten or lengthen, the sun gets closer to/farther from the earth, and all of nature responds.  I have now seen almost 232 seasons in my lifetime, and like clockwork, they come around about every three months.

When I was in Japan, the old timers explained to me that when you live on an island in the ocean, you wait for the seasonal winds, and when those particular winds blow, you can feel the change in the seasons shortly thereafter.

It was uncanny, a warm wind would blow in early June, and the temperatures would get scorching hot.  In September, a cool wind would blow and then fall would begin.  Winter came with a frigid wind, and spring with warm gusts.  I observed that pattern for five years on that island.  I still marvel at the consistency and constancy.

Fall has crept into our lives in Catawba County, and we can see God working a new thing among us: painting the skies a brilliant orange,  leaves changing to different hues. the rest of nature doing what it does best.

 It is a quarterly reminder that God's people, if they are listening to God's whisper, watching for the signs, being attune to their surroundings, they too can experience change.

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