SIGNS OF THE TIMES



AUTUMN FOLIAGE: ONE OF MY FAVORITE SIGNS OF THE TIMES



     I stepped outside my house this morning and saw my favorite early evidence of autumn. 

    No, it wasn't the Halloween decorations hanging from retail store racks. It wasn't the cardboard signs from area churches and schools inviting people to their annual fall festivals, or the advertisements by area farmers inviting people to their annual corn mazes--both tame and haunted. No, my dear readers, it was something far greater; something no human being could create with his or her own hands.   

    It was purely God-given, Mother Nature-concocted, and simply all around me. The beautiful fall foliage laying scattered on the ground; the green leaves of last springtime slowly trading their emerald green jackets for beautiful brown coats. These same leaves that were once admired from a distance during long, summertime drives through the country will shortly decorate mountain landscapes with deep hues of red, brown and gold.

    Of course, let's not forget the other fun things that occur from autumn leaves. They'll also be raked into huge piles of sheer pleasure for children of all ages to enjoy, and become crunched beneath our feet singing a special tune, the sound of Autumn's royal fanfare.

    Autumn foliage. The wonderful aroma of pumpkins and apple cider hanging heavily in the crisp air. Fresh caramel apples and hot bowls of chili to fill us up. How marvelous autumn is! Perhaps jazz icon Louie Armstrong said it best: What a wonderful world it is, indeed!