The beautiful things in life are almost always immaterial. Things
like spring breezes, summer nights, the magic of winter, and the crisp smell of
fall are what inspire people the most. Stories told, poems written, pictures
taken, art painted, songs sung all in an effort to capture the beautiful
brevity of these things we hold so dear. From experience, I will tell
you, the things that bring me the most joy are almost never tangible.
I have a fascination
with the picturesque. The simple but astounding beauty of this world my God has
created for his children to enjoy. Beginning in the winter, when children
(including myself) gather around windows to watch the first snow fall from
heaven. The puffy white swirls float quietly down from the clouds high above,
making no announcement of their arrival, just simply coming down to rest on the
grass, the bare branches of trees, and the roofs of homes. Even I, who hate the
chill of winter with a deep passion, love to sit for hours at a time watching
the world change outside my window. The cozy pleasure of that moment brings me
such deep joy.
After winter comes
spring, which in my opinion is the most magical season on this earth. The way the sludgy snow begins to melt away,
leaving the still bare trees and frozen homes dripping as winter leaves for
another year and spring peaks her head out again. There is a certain scent in
the air that promises glorious adventure. The heads of flowers begin to poke
their way up from the ground like impish sprites come out to play and trees
begin to bud with new life that will shade them in their games. I love more
than almost anything to sit in the muddy green grass and just smell the air. I
lean my head back and bask in the sweetness of all the new life just beginning.
From the mystical
wonder of spring comes the shining days of summer. Time seems to stands still
in the glory of sun-soaked days and hazy nights. The smells of summer, they are
more intoxicating than they are numerous. Blackberries ripening in the sun,
honeysuckle and lilac bushes mingling in harmony, and bonfires sending their smoky
offerings into the sky, they all define the glory of summer in my mind. Summer
rains are one of the keenest pleasures in life. To dance and twirl in the
warmth of a summer rain is pure joy to which nothing else compares. I hold so
many dear memories of summer nights next to a fire that I cannot begin to
recount them all. I have spent many an afternoon with family or friends walking
the downtown street of my little hometown in the summer, enjoying an ice cream
or chilled coffee as we enjoy local art and the privilege of time together.
When summer’s rays
begin to fade, autumn quietly sneaks in to take his place. The chill in the air
begins as a sneaky ghost in the breeze. The sun is still warm and inviting,
even more now as it competes with the nip in the wind. The leaves turn golden
yellow, burnished brown, vibrant red, and fiery orange, decorating the streets
in their splendor. I relish the chance to drag out my collection of favorite
sweaters and hats to bundle up in for a soccer game with friends. Bonfires hold
a different joy now as the weather turns cool and people flock to the warmth
with cups of cider and crisp apples to munch.
God's majesty is never more evident, than in the effortless perfection of the seasons.
