The main room in our home has big windows with views of the woods. As I sit looking out enjoying my morning coffee, I am fully aware of the changes before me. Not that long ago, I saw the hot summer sun casting its bright light on all the lush greenery. Now the greens of summer are shifting to the warm browns, reds, oranges and yellows of fall. I take great delight in the beauty beyond the windows. In addition, this is nature's reminder to me that change is gradual and ever-present.

This mirrors our experience. Sometimes we get impatient with making the changes we seek. Our quest can feel long, daunting and never-ending. Yet at the point when we stop to reflect, we realize that just like the cycle of the seasons, we too have changed and come to the next stage. There is meaning and hope in the journey and the discovery. Let this season inspire you with both patience and action.