I see the moon and the moon sees me, down through the leaves of the old oak tree! Thought about this children’s poem by Meredith Wilson when I was walking Penelope this morning. I was watching a swarm of fall oak leaves floating gracefully to the ground and when I looked up through the leaves of the old oak tree I could see the moon was pinned in the fall blue sky. The water oaks are dropping their leaves, dressed in their brown sweaters, with every whisper of the wind. The few patches of leaves in their yellow cardigans, making their appearance this weekend, have already let go of their branches. One of the old oak trees across the street had a large patch of yellow leaves, looked just like a jack o’lantern face to me. Course my youngest son started the Shady Oaks lecture when I asked him if he saw the jack o’lantern face in the leaves. Nature thrillls and inspires me when her seasons change.

The day has been so pleasant. Bright blue sky, cloudless till lunch, when a few thin wispsy clouds made themselves known. The clouds stretched and stretched, just like they had been waked up from a good night’s sleep, and got so thin they dissolved. I’ve perched in the porch swing enjoying the songbirds on the feeders and the butterflies dancing in the hot pink zinnias and sunshine yellow petunias. The breeze was rustling the leaves and I could hear a mountain breeze sound as the heavy breezes blew through the huge fir trees across the street. The acorns are jumping from the oak branches, pinging on the metal porch furniture like little bombs. Penelope and I jump when an acorn strikes the furniture.

The wind chimes had an arresting sound today, loud and boisterous. A fat wren tried to light on the pipes and played a curious melody. When the breezes stopped, the wind chimes played quiet hymns on their pipes. I love to make up words to the chimes’ pings.

Walked down the street at twilight to see what color Mother Nature had painted the horizon when Father Sun tucked in the sun for the night. On my return walk to the porch I tried to think of the perfect color to describe the light-orange-pink of the gloaming sunset. Maybe the color of a nectarine. I love the color gradients in a sunset. Sometimes I imagine they’re a paint color strip and try to name all the layers. Today’s’ strip is orange peach, candlelight peach, Georgia peach, and pink peach. A pale turquoise layer joined the layers nearest the dusky horizon. Mother Nature is enjoying her watercolor brushes and painting gloriously. Her palette always inspires me and delights me with her glorious layering of colors.

Was watching how beautiful light is in nature today. The rays of sun drifting down through the bamboo branches, the sunlight highlighting the yellow butterfly wings, the setting sun filtering through the fall leaves on a dirt road, the dim daylight beauty of eventide, the light’s darkness of the day’s demise. In Genesis God said, “Let there be light: and there was light.” God lights the world with his grace and comforts us in its warmth. 1 John 1:5 reads, “God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.”

Jesus said he was the “light of the world” offering eternal life to those who follow him. Psalm 119:105 reads, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” God is a lighthouse in our lives with a beacon of love and light that inspire and encourage us. Just as the beam of the lighthouse helps boat captains steer safely through the stormy waters, God’s love and our faith can be sources of comfort. God’s guiding light pilots us in the right direction when we have storms and gives us hope of brighter days ahead. God’s light helps us see in the dark and leads us safely to the light of his love. We never walk alone in the darkness. God walks faithfully beside us. “Even on our darkest days God’s peace is a golden light continually shining on us,” Unknown.

Edith Wharton wrote, “There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.” Share God’s light with those walking in darkness by being compassionate and kind. Scripture in Matthew instructs us “to let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Believing in Jesus helps light the world. “I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life,” John 8:12.

“I believe in Christ like I believe in the sun — not because I can see it, but because by it I can see everything else,” C.S. Lewis