Golden Leaves in July

“Live in each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influence of the earth.” ~ Henry David Thoreau

Perhaps it's because of the recent heat.  Perhaps not.  But I've been noticing golden leaves on my walks in July.  They cannot hide themselves well amid the greens of high summer.

Despite their apparent juxtaposition, they inevitably lead me to reflect upon some things  Do we appreciate our current season any less when we notice the signs of the next?  Or do both feel sweeter, somehow?

Integration

"...and there was a new voice which you slowly recognized as your own...."

~ Mary Oliver, "The Journey" 

There comes a time in a life when you need not pick up the pieces.  It is then that you realize they were always a part of the whole.  And everything is new again.

Weeding

"Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything that is beautiful; for beauty is God's handwriting..." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

I have gotten behind (way behind!) on my weeding.  And because weeds in my gardens can no longer stay, I set about the task, just now, for a time, a little at a time, or so I thought.

I was in for a bit of a surprise.

The more I weeded, the fewer weeds I saw.  It seems many of the weeds had integrated into Beauty, no longer weeds at all...

Amazing Grace

"Field notes" from my walk this morning....

"Acceptance" can be an active word...one need not accept any sort of consolation prize in this abundantly miraculous world!  Joy...

It has everything to do with your perception of what comes your way...

It is the deeper meaning of Amazing Grace...

It's not salvation we must accept. It is Joy.

It is Love...