Monday, September 29, 2008

Listen

If you've been anywhere near civilization the last week or so (and if you're reading this, I assume you are now) you've been bombarded with newscasters' voices delivering unsavory news reports...financial crisis, candidates launching verbal darts, hurricane recovery...on and on.

It's enough to rattle a person's nerves if allowed. However, we can't ignore these happenings. Sand was not meant as a home for our heads.

Instead I'll suggest a momentary refuge. Have you noticed lately the sounds of the season? Anyone who knows me (or who reads this blog for long) knows that I love fall. The sounds around us right now aren't all unique to fall, but humor me for now. As I tap out these words, a chorus of crickets sings my neighborhood to sleep. In the mountains, breezes play aspen leaves like nature's wind chimes. Other trees surrender their leaves to tall piles in yards, laughing children crunching them with leaping cannon balls. Taking a moment to focus on small pleasures reminds me that our world still makes sense at times. I smile and thank God.

I could go on a lot longer, but I'd rather hear about your favorite seasonal sounds.

5 comments:

Travis said...

I like the sound of snow falling. Really, it's a soft, muted sound that is unique only to snow. Very calming. Unless, of course, it is accompanied by a West Texas wind storm.

Gwen Stewart said...

No way, Alison. ;) I just wrote a very very similar post on my blog this morning along these very same lines, before I even read yours. How neat is that? Great minds think alike. ;)

Fall is hands-down my favorite. It lasts about one month here in Michigan, a beautiful month filled with apples and pumpkins. Forgive my ignorance: does Colorado grow apples? You have us beat upside, backwards and forwards on scenery, there's no doubt about that. We do grow some nice apples, though.

Thanks for visiting my blog and I love yours. God bless you today.

Gwen Stewart said...

Eh, now I have egg on my face! You're from New Mexico, not Colorado. I was fooled by the picture up top. Sorry for my flightiness..haven't had my fill of coffee this early morning. ;)

Rosslyn Elliott said...

I love the expression "egg on my face." That's definitely one I need to look up.

Alison, thanks for posting this. I have been running around like a Tasmanian devil for the past few days (which is why I'm only now checking in on my friends' blogs). The fact that I can't immediately think of any favorite seasonal sounds is a sign that I need to slow down and listen.

Anonymous said...

This is very similar to what our pastor discussed this past Sunday. Block out the noise of the world so that you can listen to what God is asking you or saying to you.