Where did the summer go?
Where did the summer go? Oh I know we have till the 22rd to make the first day of Fall official. But it seems like just a short time ago we were still having snow in early to mid April. As the weather warmed I was looking forward to our first trip up north to our cabin off the grid, for that cool New England weather and some fishing and relaxation. Now here it is Sept. and we're looking forward to our trips up north in the cool crisp air of fall, cutting wood getting the wood stove going in the cold fall Maine evenings, yes it can get fairly cold in the fall evenings. I do love the four seasons. In my younger days of hunting and trapping, the first cool days of late summer and early fall I would get that urge and get my trapping gear in order for Nov. and the daily early morning hikes through the woods, regardless of the weather, checking my line. Sometimes as early as 3:00 am, (Arlene thought I was crazy), sometimes rain, sometimes snow and temps as low as 10 degrees or lower. My favorite time was early Christmas morning, out in the woods surrounded by God's great creation it is so quiet and peaceful, I would just sit there for a moment or two, say a pray, and I would feel his presence. I don't know about you, but it seems like the older I get the faster time flies. We somehow went from being one of the youngest in the congregation to one of the oldest. It seems like it wasn't that long ago when we started coming to this little church, about 1973, sitting in the 4th pew, three young boys, one not yet in school, sitting in the 3th pew in front of us, tapping them on the shoulder to keep them quiet. It was probably the first time our youngest, Jeff, about 3 or 4, was in church, when we had a moment of silent prayer. He turned to us and said in a normal voice “Why is everyone so quiet”. Now we not only have grand children but “great” grandchildren, Jaxon, the youngest, who is four years old already. My little buddy at work. The older I get the more I realize we are only in this earthly body in this earthly world for only a very short time. The Bible says “Where as you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.” James 4: 14. With Covid-19 starting back in December 2019 (now there is evidence it was here months before that), it's been almost two years now, we have seen a lot of friends and loved ones move on to be with our heavenly father. Some may seem to us a little too soon, but our Lord in his infinite wisdom and on his own time table has reasons we will never understand. We just have to put our trust in him. But while we're still here we have to make the best of the time we have left, letting others know how the Lord has blessed us and how He can also bless them. “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity” Ephesians 5:15-16. “We cannot add an hour to our life, but we can add some life to our hours”. I know some of you are not looking forward to the cold weather, so we still have a few weeks left to enjoy what we have of the warm days of late Summer and early Fall. So get out there, enjoy and the late garden harvest or take a hike through the woods and enjoy the beautiful colors of fall that our heavenly father prepares for us. Bob W "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." Genesis 1:1 "In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind." Job 12:10