Autumn has been taking her sweet time showing off her fabulous colors this year, as if refusing to change might somehow delay the inevitable. However, we have been having some cooler weather, a fact which has been beckoning me into the woods. And so, today I ventured out to my favorite trail in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. I was surprised to find that the forest floor was already layered with gold, orange, and brown. As I started out on the trail, I looked intently for the gravel hidden beneath the leaves, not wanting to leave the “beaten path” because hopefully that would mean I would be less likely to step on a snake. I can't help but imagine how well an eastern diamondback would camouflage himself under this blanket of leaves.
The breathtaking photo ops were endless and I'm pretty sure that today's total number of pictures taken would top my list, if I had one. My eyes were in a constant state of motion, gazing at the colorful treetops against the blue and white backdrop and back to the vibrant carpet beneath my feet. This hike was destined to be a saunter instead of my normal quick-paced attempt at aerobic exercise. And surprisingly, I was not put off by this fact, in spite of my need to burn calories. I was distinctly aware of the need to savor each moment.
Toward the end of my hike, the wind picked up and suddenly I was captivated by leaves swirling and dancing all around me. It was a magical moment and evidence that this particular hike was truly a gift from God. Rain was predicted later in the day and I knew that the combination of wind and rain meant that the lifespan of this year's deciduous leaves was already coming to an end. Even though it seemed to me that they had just started changing, I was keenly aware that fall is fickle, sometimes giving us weeks of visual pleasure and other times losing her leaves almost before they've been allowed to show-off. This year seems destined to be the latter.
Instead of driving straight home after my hike, I decide to go the opposite way and enjoy a picturesque winding road through the forest. Again, the leaves were falling from above like golden snowflakes, this time covering the asphalt. I drove slowly, opening my moon roof to capture the beauty of the canopy overhead. I remember reading a book many years ago that described how each of us worships God in a different way. My inclination has always been to worship God through His creation. It's where I sense His presence most intensely and so again I thank Him for allowing me to experience this spectacular fall day in such a memorable way. “Shout joyful praises to God, all the earth! Sing about the glory of His name! Tell the world how glorious He is!” (Psalm 66:1-2)
