I can feel it in the air as I take a deep breath on a morning walk or evening a drawn out sigh as I sit and watch the sunset. There’s a soft breeze and a crisp smell as we bid adieu to summer and welcome in fall.
A change in seasons often comes a time of reflection, maybe even a small hint of longing? Am I doing enough this year? I still have 4 goals to check off before the end of the year and I’m not even close! Am I falling behind? Should I be doing less? Should I be resting or reconstructing or planning or….deep breathe.
I invite you to take a lesson from Lorelai Gilmore for a second. Yes, I’m making a Gilmore Girls reference but hey, it’s the beginning of fall and I’m a millennial, what more would you expect?
In one of her famous episodes, Rory, her daughter, is attempting to close the windows of their house saying that it’s freezing inside when Lorelai says, “Wait. Close your eyes and breathe.” and so, Rory takes in a deep breathe and breathes in the crisp smell of the air blowing in the window. Lorelai then gleams at her daughter, “I smell snow…can’t you smell it?” The scene continues with her daughter swearing that it’s like “dogs and high pitched noises, it’s something only you can smell.” Here’s where I really want you to pay attention, instead of Lorelai getting annoyed by her daughter’s sarcasm or even defending her argument, she responds to her with this:
“I love snow…everything’s magical when it snows. Everything’s pretty…I feel good; tingly.”
This in itself isn’t special but when you take a step back and realize what Lorelai was doing, you can’t help but take a deep breathe yourself. In this scene, she’s being present with the changing of seasons. While her daughter is trying to snuff out the crisp air, her mom is saying accept it and let in the new season; the fresh air.
It’s hard to accept, sometimes, the changing of seasons, wanting to ignore or even close a window to the reality that what you were used to is no more. But that’s when God steps in with his best magic.
And just like Rory, not everyone will understand when God’s at work in your life, changing the seasons, but that doesn’t take away the magic of what He’s doing for His good works.
You feel it even when you can’t quite explain it. It may feel all good and tingly or even awkward and uncomfortable. Maybe He’s asking you to take a leap of faith and launch into something that wasn’t in your perfectly laid out vision board for the year. Maybe it’s a small nudge and it feels like a lump in your throat because you don’t want to speak up or act upon what He’s calling you towards. Or maybe, it’s Him telling you to simply trust in His magic and wait on The Lord.
As the change in seasons rolls in and the magic of fall settles over your hearts and your homes, be reminded that He has you where you are at for His good deeds and His good purpose.
Through the years, “I smell snow” became a quote that has stuck with me every single year as the seasons shift from bright greens to muted browns and gold. And every year, I’m reminded of Lorelai’s unwavering willingness to take a step back, breathe in the change, and being willing to sit in the presence of that change.
Take the walk with your dog or the stroller or spouse or even by your lonesome self and allows Him to speak to you. What is He nudging in your direction for this next season of your life?
What’s stirring inside of you? How can you be present with what God’s calling upon your heart in this season while preparing for the next?
Sit with this for a moment. Allow your mind to wander and take a deep breathe.
What’s God preparing you for in this next season of your life?
Simply Blooming Grace 