Confessions of a World Racer : I’m a huge seasons junkie. I’ve been blessed by living in Minnesota because I experience each of the 4 seasons every year.
I get to feel the biting cold of winter. I get to see the way the snow covers each of the trees like chocolate covered pretzels. I get to bundle up in tons of layers that make my insides feel all warm and cozy.
I get to taste the freshness of spring. I see the way the Lord lights up the earth with a new life. I watch the days lengthen and I can hear the shouts of kids playing on the playground from my house.
I love the cheeriness of summer. The joy and freedom that overcomes every student. The multitude of adventures that are to be had. The warm lakes and the chilliness of sleeping in a tent.
But most of all, I love fall. I love everything about fall. The briskness of the air as you step outside. The comfort of a good bonfire and a s’more. The ability to wear fuzzy socks and moccasins and choppers and hats and vests. The shouts of every committed student at the local football games. The gradual change of everything from a vibrant green to a vast array of reds, oranges, and yellows. The way warm drinks just speak to the depths of your soul.
There’s so much comfort in autumn and I was bummed that I wouldn’t be able to experience that this year. I knew that I might have chilly weather in Romania and Ukraine (and you bet I have) but I knew that it would probably be lacking the fullness of what makes Minnesota’s fall great.
As we were driving back from Greece, we had the opportunity to drive through Bulgaria during the daytime. Holy stink, that country is beautiful. Gorgeous mountains looming in the distance. Beautiful people along the sides of the road. Cattle grazing through the fields.
At one point, I looked out the window and saw the Lord’s love physically displayed for me. There it was. Gorgeous expanses of autumn colors. Vibrant reds and oranges and yellows filling each of the trees. Each mountain was jam packed with the Lord’s creativity displayed. They were right outside of our window. It seemed as though the mountains and trees were put there specifically so that I could enjoy them.
Upon seeing this, my teammate and I started crying. We were both so in awe with the Lord’s wonders and the way that He chooses to love each of us in the ways that we love to be loved. The Lord knew how much this meant to me. He knew how much I loved fall and the beauty of nature during this season of change.
The Lord loves to love us. He loves to bless us in unique ways. And I think that’s the most beautiful part of all of it. Even though I still desperately want a pumpkin chai latte, I know that the Lord has me covered. And that this season of change is going to be one of the most beautiful ones yet.
