As the Seasons Change

A few weekends ago, Kathy and I visited a little known inn situated in the rolling foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Friends of ours raved about their inexpensive patio menu as well as the soothing pastoral setting, so we decided to try it.

We arrived a little before sunset. To tell the truth, I was in a bit of a hurry; I didn’t want to show up late and find the place was full. My concerns, however, were quickly laid to rest as we walked through the graceful courtyard and made our way around the back.

Words cannot describe the locale adequately.

The sun was just peeping over the mountains, giving a final wave farewell as it settled down in the west. A herd of horses appeared across a small pond and just as quickly vanished in the waning heat of the day.

Summer had officially ended the previous week, but a deliciously mild breeze refreshed us as we sat down at our table to order.

Oh, what to order.

I ordered a cheeseburger, and Kathy picked out a BLT.

My eyes were drawn to the buzz of activity beside us. There was a small bush in full flower and large bees made quick work of gathering pollen. I normally am skittish around flying stingers, but I actually found their droning to be soothing; heightening the experience of eating out in the open.

At first, I hesitated talking about how beautiful everything was (as if doing so would somehow break the spell), but eventually we couldn’t help but share all the delights that met our senses as the sky began to darken and we entered twilight.

By the time our food arrived, the bees had clocked out for the evening. In their place, tiny moths ushered in the night shift.

I had never witnessed such a marvel firsthand.

Our food in hand, we relished the explosions of flavor that danced across our palates. This was just about the freshest food we had ever eaten. We even exchanged bites of food to show what the other was missing. The hamburger, perfectly cooked and sitting on a slab of aged cheddar (which somehow matched perfectly with the beef) was one of the very best I’ve EVER eaten.

EVER.

Kathy, happily munching away at her BLT with apple wood smoked bacon, concurred.

Dessert was a hard decision, but we decided on an Apple and Pear Crisp with Spiced Moroccan Ice Cream.

It’s even better than it sounds like.

One by one, the lights on the patio winked on and by the time we left, stars had begun to fill the indigo skies.

A cool breeze greeted us as we took our leave and walked to our car.

We were amazed we could enjoy such a meal for what we typically spend at a chain restaurant.

Change was in the air.

Now, I’m a creature of habit, and I enjoy my routines, but one thing I love about living in Virginia is watching the seasons turn.

Seasons come and go for all of us. Childhood, adolescence, young adulthood, marriage, parenthood, on and on until we pass on through the waters to the next life.

Change happens in our neighborhoods and workplaces.

Change even happens in churches as well. New groups form as some others fade. People move in and out of our lives. New challenges also sometimes crop up to try to make us forget hard-fought victories.

Through it all, we try to keep our eyes wide open.

“What is God changing right now?”

“What lives is He touching as we move on this journey?”

As I was writing this piece, I pulled up the website for the amazing inn to reacquaint myself with the menu. I was stricken with grief to see that their new fall menu doesn’t have burgers.

But you know what? That fresh tomato and mozzarella sandwich looks pretty good!

Change is in the air!

Stay tuned…
Joe

P.S. If you want to know the name of the inn, just drop me an email at joe@zriver.org.

Related Verses
Psalm 104
Let all that I am praise the LORD. O LORD my God, how great you are! You are robed with honor and majesty. You are dressed in a robe of light. You stretch out the starry curtain of the heavens; you lay out the rafters of your home in the rain clouds. You make the clouds your chariot; you ride upon the wings of the wind. The winds are your messengers; flames of fire are your servants.

You placed the world on its foundation so it would never be moved. You clothed the earth with floods of water, water that covered even the mountains. At your command, the water fled; at the sound of your thunder, it hurried away. Mountains rose and valleys sank to the levels you decreed. Then you set a firm boundary for the seas, so they would never again cover the earth. You make springs pour water into the ravines, so streams gush down from the mountains.

They provide water for all the animals, and the wild donkeys quench their thirst. The birds nest beside the streams and sing among the branches of the trees. You send rain on the mountains from your heavenly home, and you fill the earth with the fruit of your labor.
You cause grass to grow for the livestock and plants for people to use. You allow them to produce food from the earth— wine to make them glad, olive oil to soothe their skin, and bread to give them strength. The trees of the LORD are well cared for— the cedars of Lebanon that he planted. There the birds make their nests, and the storks make their homes in the cypresses. High in the mountains live the wild goats, and the rocks form a refuge for the hyraxes.

You made the moon to mark the seasons, and the sun knows when to set. You send the darkness, and it becomes night, when all the forest animals prowl about. Then the young lions roar for their prey, stalking the food provided by God. At dawn they slink back into their dens to rest. Then people go off to their work, where they labor until evening.

O LORD, what a variety of things you have made! In wisdom you have made them all. The earth is full of your creatures. Here is the ocean, vast and wide, teeming with life of every kind, both large and small. See the ships sailing along, and Leviathan, which you made to play in the sea.

They all depend on you to give them food as they need it. When you supply it, they gather it. You open your hand to feed them, and they are richly satisfied. But if you turn away from them, they panic. When you take away their breath, they die and turn again to dust.

When you give them your breath, life is created, and you renew the face of the earth. May the glory of the LORD continue forever! The LORD takes pleasure in all he has made! The earth trembles at his glance; the mountains smoke at his touch. I will sing to the LORD as long as I live. I will praise my God to my last breath!

May all my thoughts be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the LORD. Let all sinners vanish from the face of the earth; let the wicked disappear forever. Let all that I am praise the LORD. Praise the LORD!

NLTse