Endings and Beginnings

I open the backdoor to let the dogs out on a not too early Saturday morning. With a reflex snap of my wrist, I push the door close - can't let in the heat or flies. But I'm surprised to feel a coolness as the door creaks shut. Instead of checking the temperature on my watch like I have every morning for the past four months, I let myself answer the breeze's siren call.

Oh. My. Goodness. It's actually a crisp Fall morning! It's Fall! It's Fall! Where have you been my love, let's break out the cinnamon tea and cozy blankets. The sweet almond scented candles and the long sleeve shirts. Let's…hold up.

While it's blissfully cool outside, the dewy grass feels refreshing on my toes, and my son can gleefully walk into the garden with me without a bucket hat on, I'm quickly reminded that just two days ago it was over 100 degrees. And that makes me remember that while it's a cloudy, crisp, Fall-like morning, it's not in fact Fall yet.

The final days of Summer and the first few days at my new school

Last week, I had my students write a poem about where they currently are in life and/or where they wanted to be. And since I don't ask my students to do anything I'm not willing to do, I too wrote this type of poem. On my quarter of a mile walk to class that morning, I'd found myself lamenting that it was still so doggone hot. So, that's what I ended up writing about. How I was hot and longing for the dreamy days of Fall while also trying not to send Summer on its way too soon.

Yes, this is where I literally was physically and emotionally. But it's also where I am spiritually. Anyone who knows me knows I'm all about respecting each season. Don't start bringing out the Christmas trees before the Turkey and don't rush the Spring blooms when the final frosty days of Winter still loom. And while I'm pretty good about resisting the temptation to season hop, I find myself too often wanting to exit the spiritual season I'm in before it's over.

This doesn't just apply to hard seasons but to wonderfully fulfilling seasons as well.  I begin to get anxious and wonder about what's coming next and too often I miss those final moments that can either teach me valuable lessons or leave me with moments to treasure. So, my challenge to myself and to you if you're like me is to cherish every moment of the season you're currently in.

On that same extremely hot day when I was lamenting the relentlessness of Summer, I was able to come home and laugh a good belly laugh with my son as he splashed in a makeshift water park in the backyard - complete with "rain,

" which is what he called my husband cooling us off with the hose. Rarely is one season the same all the time, so instead of resisting where we are let's accept and adapt.