Fall Focuses Us on Love

Temperatures have gone from 100 degrees to 65 degrees in a matter of days. The winds in the heartland, they are a changing. The season, like so much of life, is changing.

One thing we know for sure is that nothing stays the same. The restlessness of life continually surprises us with new challenges. In just a few days I've learned of death, birth, job changes, health issues, divorce, and an unparalleled act of kindness toward a family member...All news coming to me as I sit at my computer. One doesn't even have to leave the sanctity of home to be immersed in all that life has to offer. Seasons change, as do lives, whether we're ready for it or not.

As with all change, there is the good with the bad. Beautiful fall colors are followed by piles of fallen, brown leaves; nature's way of telling us there is good and bad in everything. We must learn not to focus too fanatically on either. "This too shall pass..." A simple adage defining all of life's moments. What always remains are memories.

Fall is the time of year when we begin focusing on holidays, traditions, memories of special moments in the past. The most memorable are those infused with love. Love is the adhesive that adheres our greatest moments to memory. Love is the common thread through all change--the celebration of birth, the sorrow of death, the anticipation of a new job or the gratitude of generosity. Paramount to change is love. When we are confounded with life's changes, we need only to love more. Love is what pulls us through. It's what comforts us. It is what sustains us. Fall is a time when we focus more on love.

Love of family, love of friends, love of comfort foods, of football, apple picking, sweater-weather...Fall gives us the bounty of life we love. We conclude the great season with a holiday of Thanksgiving; of being grateful for all we have.

Temperatures fall, seasons change...Life continues its forward motion. Good or bad life changes. We cannot stop change, but we can love more. We can transform all life offers into loving memories. Fall helps us focus more on love. We need to remember that.