Are you like me and love the fall? How do you mark the transition from summer to fall? With tears of joy or tears of sadness? I am writing from Torch Lake in Alden, Michigan. I am not here for personal reasons, but rather for work. Let’s be honest though, it’s not “work” looking out over the lake every day. This is my third time here and it only gets more beautiful every time. It also marks entry into my favorite time of year. I know that a little over a month I will be hiking on a trail that will provide incredible views and unforgettable memories. It is easy to view it as the end of the summer and enjoying time at the pool. However, with the pandemic maybe this shift to fall will bring much needed change. It has been difficult and much like the New Year will possibly bring a renewed outlook. I think that it is important that no matter what season of life we are in that we have intentional transitions that help us progress through life. It is like while on the trail. It is not always easy, but knowing that there is a stream up ahead or camp waiting for you it helps make the difficult moments a little bit more bearable. Knowing that the next turn of the trail or top of the elevation climb gets you onto the next stretch is reassuring and often very comforting. The trick is not viewing the next turn or elevation climb as a barrier. This is not to say that the autumn should be your go-to reset or that you should fall madly in love with pumpkins and all things orange and brown. I am saying that you have an opportunity to regain some bit of “normalcy”. Embrace the chance to move from one mindset to another one. Children entering into a new school year often do so with excitement, not with grasping onto the long days at the pool or the booming fireworks from the Fourth of July. Sure, those memories are present, but they are what are shared with friends in class or on the playground. Laughing around the campfire after a hard day of hiking ushers in the opportunity to reminisce about the shared views and moments that made the hike enjoyable. It is in knowing that the next day holds another chance to change up what didn’t work and apply what did. It also provides a new sense of accomplishment and a challenge to accomplish more. So what is the thing that you are about to experience is your move to the next season that will bring you beauty, rest, and restoration, or even the next challenge?
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