I’ve been thinking a lot this week about the change in seasons. Its strange how fast it switches from the warmth of sunny days to the chilly autumn wind. All of a sudden, I’ve been feeling fall.

The fall is a time of reds, golds, and oranges. One of my favorite things in the world is warm apple cider, and I’ve been having a lot of it recently. There are certain things that we wait for and look forward to in the fall, like Halloween and football and pumpkin-everything. We highlight our families and time together. We do a lot of decorating – first in spooky cobwebs, then in fall leaves and baskets of food, then in the reds and greens of Christmas. For many, fall is a time of traditions. And celebrations.

This fall feels different to me. Maybe it’s because it’s my first full fall in Arkansas – having started at Ferncliff a year ago this week. I grew up where the leaves didn’t change (aka Florida), and I am always shocked and amazed when green trees are suddenly red or yellow or orange.

I’ve never been to a fall wedding, and last week some dear Ferncliff friends got married outside among the fall foliage, and it felt very fall. I’ve never been a big Halloween person, but when Emily lived into her Ferncliff Nature Name this week and dressed like a Scarlet Tanager, I couldn’t help but feel the Halloween holiday spirit. It felt fall.

I’m guessing this fall feels different to you too. Maybe you’re seeing the changing leaves and shorter days. Maybe you’re feeling the change in temperature and wondering what socially distanced activities you can do indoors. Maybe you’re feeling the loss of trick-or-treating the way you’ve done it before. Maybe you’re realizing that traveling or gathering together at Thanksgiving or Christmas is too dangerous and you want to keep your loved ones safe. Maybe you’re feeling the fall.

One way that I feel in fall is grateful. As November approaches, we are reminded of giving thanks and orienting ourselves in gratitude. This fall, I think we need that tradition even more. We need to hold on to the things that we can look forward to, to the traditions and the celebrations. We need to be grateful for what we can do, even as there is much we can’t.

So here are some things that I am grateful for, and I invite you to make a list for you too.

• I am grateful for the beauty of bright red trees and the bright flames of campfires.
• I am grateful for worshipping communities that brave the weather to gather together.
• I am grateful for LearnCliff kids wearing pink butterfly wings.
• I am grateful for gluten-free wedding cake.
• I am grateful for summer staff reunions and volunteer groups.
• I am grateful for our In-A-Box ministries and the many families that have and will enjoy them.
• I am grateful for Ferncliff-branded packing tape and holographic stickers.
• I am grateful for family Halloween costumes that include the cat.
• I am grateful for change – for the change in seasons and the change in plans and the changes yet to come.

What are you grateful for?

Jocelyn Wildhack is our Camp, Events, and Forest Church Coordinator. She is soon to be ordained as a minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA).