Yesterday I spent nearly an hour wandering aimlessly around the grocery store in search of a can of pumpkin. Since today is the first day of fall, I wanted to celebrate by baking some pumpkin goodies. But, apparently I’ve missed out on the hubbub of what is turning out to be the Great Pumpkin Shortage of 2009. 

So instead of symbolically putting on my scarf and fall jacket in the kitchen by filling the house with the smell of pumpkin bread, I had to settle for lemon ricotta muffins (which, by the way, turned out to be quite the tasty treat). 

In my world, the first day of fall is always a day to celebrate. Since I grew up in the northern Midwest, I relish in the cool weather. I’m one of the rare individuals who actually enjoys days getting colder and colder until you can actually see your breath in the morning and have to bundle up to look like Randy in A Christmas Story in order to go outside. 

Seasons changing are such a beautiful reminder that everything in life is cyclical. The long silent death of winter gives way to spring with its new growth; summer is the time for things to flourish, and fall is the time for things to mature, change, and start to die. 

Fall, more than any other season, reminds me of God’s faithfulness to me. It seems like fall has always been a season of change in the world around me as well as in my own life. Big moves, job changes, and relationship changes seem to always happen during this time of year. The change of weather reminds me of how things have changed in my life and how God has remained faithful in every season. 

Psalm 25:10 (ESV) says “All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.” Even though things in my life haven’t always been perfect and big changes have thrown me off course to the point that I didn’t know if I’d ever find my way back, as I’ve continued to find refuge in Him, He’s been faithful to keep me with His steadfast love. 

As things have changed in my life, there’s always a point of deciding to die to myself and rely on God’s faithfulness to keep me, realizing that even though things might not look the way I’d thought they would I can trust that God is good and faithful. 

Even though things outside are dying, hibernating, and moving south, these changes are so beautiful. God set the leaves changing color, birds migrating south, and even beautiful fall produce as reminders of the beauty that comes in dying. 

So, today I’m listening to “The Great Pumpkin Waltz,” sipping coffee, eating my non-pumpkin fall muffin, and reflecting on God’s faithfulness to me in every season.