As a boy growing up in Virginia I always remember the glorious colors of the trees as October got underway. From green to blazing color with golds and reds predominating, I remember Sunday afternoon family outings to see where the most beautiful colors were.
Autumn in North Florida is a bit different but still has a beauty of its own. The change of colors is much more subtle and less dramatic with some going from green directly to brown. And then often some of the brown looking leaves actually remain on the trees until our early Spring when the new growth finally replaces them. But with the sunshine shining more softly as it become less direct and the clear blue skies found as the humidity drops, it is still exceedingly beautiful.
Whether you are walking on the beach, taking a trail ride aboard your favorite steed, or even canoeing in one of the many rivers and creeks that bless Old Florida, there is much to behold and it just makes you glad to be alive. That's why I call North Florida at this time of year "God's country". You can actually exert yourself more and sweat less and the oppressive heat is replaced by warm but not hot days and cool nights. It finally becomes the season for bonfires again.
And then looking ahead, I realize that even though winter is coming and we do get some freezes and significant cold, it never lasts for long, usually a couple of days at most until it warms again. Winter days in the low 50s with nights in the mid 30s are really quite nice after some of the places I have lived before. And there is no snow to scrape, shovel or have accidents in. Finally, as my bones get older I notice the cold much more than I used to. And while I didn't originally come to Florida for that reason, now that I am retired here I know it's a good place to be.
Dear Lord, thank You for directing my life journey to North Florida for the final active segment of my life and help me to live graciously with the gifts from nature you have provided and nurture and protect them so that others might experience a similar joy. And help all of us temporary residents of earth, whatever we do and wherever we might be, to always care appropriate for the Creation which You so lovingly provided. In Christ's name we ask, Amen.
Go out and have fun on this beautiful Sunday but, remember, we have responsibility for what we do on this God-given planet. God bless you all.
Autumn in North Florida is a bit different but still has a beauty of its own. The change of colors is much more subtle and less dramatic with some going from green directly to brown. And then often some of the brown looking leaves actually remain on the trees until our early Spring when the new growth finally replaces them. But with the sunshine shining more softly as it become less direct and the clear blue skies found as the humidity drops, it is still exceedingly beautiful.
Whether you are walking on the beach, taking a trail ride aboard your favorite steed, or even canoeing in one of the many rivers and creeks that bless Old Florida, there is much to behold and it just makes you glad to be alive. That's why I call North Florida at this time of year "God's country". You can actually exert yourself more and sweat less and the oppressive heat is replaced by warm but not hot days and cool nights. It finally becomes the season for bonfires again.
And then looking ahead, I realize that even though winter is coming and we do get some freezes and significant cold, it never lasts for long, usually a couple of days at most until it warms again. Winter days in the low 50s with nights in the mid 30s are really quite nice after some of the places I have lived before. And there is no snow to scrape, shovel or have accidents in. Finally, as my bones get older I notice the cold much more than I used to. And while I didn't originally come to Florida for that reason, now that I am retired here I know it's a good place to be.
Dear Lord, thank You for directing my life journey to North Florida for the final active segment of my life and help me to live graciously with the gifts from nature you have provided and nurture and protect them so that others might experience a similar joy. And help all of us temporary residents of earth, whatever we do and wherever we might be, to always care appropriate for the Creation which You so lovingly provided. In Christ's name we ask, Amen.
Go out and have fun on this beautiful Sunday but, remember, we have responsibility for what we do on this God-given planet. God bless you all.
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