By Carol Round, Special to ASSIST News Service GROVE, OKLAHOMA —“By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible”—Hebrew 11:3(NIV).
Each day, weather permitting, I like taking a walk through my lakeside neighborhood. I’ve always had an affinity for the 
outdoors, whether working in my yard or just inhaling God’s goodness.
Being outside brings a sense of peace that all is right with the world, easing my concerns for those things over which I really have no control. It reminds me God is not only the Creator of the universe, He is still in charge.
While I enjoy each season, this time of year is my favorite. With its brilliant displays of red, orange and yellow against a backdrop of fading green, the scene greeting me each fall day rapidly changes as the trees release their leaves. How different is this time of year than the spring and summer when flowers last much longer if they are tended carefully.
Fall is a reminder to me of the brevity of life. Once the leaves start changing, they don’t hang around very long. No amount of watering or fertilizing can prolong their life.
Another reminder of this season, the squirrels are scampering to bury acorns for the winter ahead. Their playful antics as the weather changes hint that I might be taking life too seriously sometimes. I witnessed a joyful scene recently between two of these bushy-tailed creatures. I was at my desk focused on my writing. My peripheral vision caught the blurred motion of activity outside my office window.
Looking up, I couldn’t help laughing as I watched two squirrels engaged in a kung-fu like activity. They weren’t fighting over acorns. Instead their playful activities evolved into a chase around my yard and up and around the massive oak trees soon to be bare of foliage.
This seasonal change also means I will be changing out my hummingbird feeders for ones full of seeds and suet. I love watching the different species of birds visiting and fighting over the sustenance I have provided for them. They remind me of greedy people who think they won’t get their share; therefore, they push ahead in line to make sure they’re not overlooked. Ah, but God can provide for us if we only release our needs to Him.
With this season, daylight hours are shorter, bringing with it the necessity to turn lights on earlier. For me, it’s a reminder to slow down from the hectic pace of summer to savor this time in all its glory, God’s glory. He created each season with a purpose, just as the seasons of our life bring change.
George Washington Carver once said, “I love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting station, through which God speaks to us every hour, if we will only tune in.”
To be aware of God’s creation, one must already believe in His existence. That doesn’t mean an unbeliever can’t appreciate nature. It’s our faith in a Creator God that reveals His fingerprints all around us. Believe and see.
