Life Changes — Savor It

Life changes quickly. It can even change overnight.

This summer my family had drastic changes in our lives with a move and a different job for me. We now literally live in the “woods”. We are surrounded by trees, and in the Ozarks at that — one of the prettier places in the country during the fall.

My life change has slowed me down to where I’ve had time to look past my circumstances and see the beauty before me. These transitions have made for a special fall. I’ve enjoyed the foliage more than any other time I can remember. It’s all around me and my eyes are actually open.

With each passing of a window in the house or drive home, I’ve tried to savor the season for I knew it would change. This year’s unseasonable warmth has placed autumn on pause — with it lasting longer than normal. Out of character for me, I’ve intentionally made sure to let my eyes linger on the scenes. Usually the red, yellow, and orange leaves switch to bare, gray limbs before I take in the blessing. This time was different.

Public Domain: http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/view-image.php?image=58639
Public Domain: http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/view-image.php?image=58639

I enjoyed it. Savored it. Took mental photographs. Consciously, was aware that the moment was fleeting. I knew it would go away. I knew when it changed, it would change quickly. So I took it in, especially yesterday. The landscape was on point — the trees had that magic sparkle that makes everything seem right. My wife and I talked about how beautiful it was. We couldn’t wait to drive through the hills the next day and relish in the beauty. She made plans in a couple days to take a family picture with the colorful leaves behind us.

Plans were made. Then we went to bed. Then we woke up. In route to the coffee maker, as the darkness gave way to light the it was not brown, red, yellow, or orange I saw in the backyard. Rather it was gray. Bare trees rose above a blanket of brown leaves covering the yard. The autumn tapestry was gone, winter’s had replaced it. We would have to wait another year. Today’s drive would be less enjoyable. My wife would have to come up with another plan for pictures.

Labeled for reuse: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sycamore_in_Warren_County,_Indiana.png
Labeled for reuse: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sycamore_in_Warren_County,_Indiana.png

I knew my favorite season wouldn’t last. I was well aware that in the twinkle of an eye it would disappear. Yet the quickness of change left me in shock. Overnight. That quick, and the landscape changed.

My wife and I are older parents. This has allowed us to heed warnings given to us, and be least likely to chase down our kiddos. We have received godly advice that our kids would grow up fast. We know it. We try to savor our time. Yet five years have flown by. Overnight things change.

The case is not only true for seasons and parenting. In everything — things change. And quickly. Often without us able to get one more photo or to say goodbye to the old.

So enjoy whatever season of life you are in. Enjoy whatever the Lord has given you because who knows the wind might blow all night, bringing change far sooner than you expect.

 

Jake McCandless

Jake McCandless is a pastor, author, and speaker for Prophecy Simplified from Arkansas. Through Prophecy Simplified Jake seeks to bridge end-time prophecy to everyday life in the lives of Christians across the country. His first book, Prepping for Our Spiritual Doomsday, releases spring of 2017 with WND Books. You can find more of Jake’s writings at his sites www.prophecysimplified.com and www.graytotebox.com, as well as, in regular columns for Almost an Author and the Baptist Press. Jake enjoys the outdoors, but more than anything he would rather be on a date with his wife Amanda or playing Barbie’s with his daughters Andrea and Addison.

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