Savoring fall

by Rob Hurtgen

Summer is unofficially over and fall is fast approaching. The mornings are already cooler than they have been, and those dreaded leaves are starting to fall off the tree in the front yard.

Soon boots will replace flip-flops and sweaters for shorts. The curmudgeonly groans of one season closing soon are overshadowed by the cheerful possibilities of a new one beginning. Every season change is a reminder of the continual work of God all around and within. One gift he has given his created are manners to enjoy each season. The following are three ways to savor this fall.

With school in full swing, football lighting up Friday nights and keeping the hopes alive for postseason baseball, it is critical to build some memories to press back the busyness of fall. One way to do this is to schedule a getaway, even if you go nowhere.

Plan out a day that turns your living room and kitchen into your favorite fall retreat location. Look up those favorite recipes that have those amazing aromas that fill your home. Find a local, state or national park and visit it with an unhurried schedule. Getaways do not need to be expensive, they just need to get you away to enjoy this new season God has given. Plan a getaway, even if you go nowhere.

Fresh apples, pastries dusted with cinnamon and chocolate and marshmallows oozing out of a graham cracker shell are some smells of fall. Slow down, bake and build some new memories with some favorite foods. If the Farmers' Almanac is correct, you will need the warmth for winter.

Lastly, attend church. If you have gotten out of the habit, fall is the perfect time to get back in the habit. There are many churches around and close to you that would love to get to know you. There is no bad time to start a new beneficial habit.

The first lines of Psalm 127:1 say, "Unless the Lord build the house, those who build it labor in vain," meaning all of the planning, prepping and memory-making prove to vanity unless the Lord is first in your life and first in your family.

Every family is building something. Families have traditions that frame who they are and memories that tell their story. The best trips and traditions can be built but when God is placed first.