 |
| View out our kitchen window |
The leaves are close to peak color now, and it reminds me of my favorite autumn post about a fall morning I spent with my friend Sarah. I first told this story in 2012 and rerun it every few years. I think it's time to share it again.
_____________________________________________________________
The Present is the Present
I am lucky that I get to spend some Sunday mornings with my friend, Sarah, a special needs teenager. I buddy with her during Sunday School as we visit different programs she enjoys. You need to know two things about Sarah (other than how sweet she is): she loves nature and can be quite determined.
She exhibited these two traits one day last fall as we walked from one building to another on the church campus to go to a singing activity. I was trying to hurry her along, only half listening as she showed me a bug or a leaf that she found interesting along our path. When we were almost to our destination, she said she was not going any further and sat down under a maple tree. After a brief moment of frustration, I stopped and remembered that there was no agenda for the morning except for Sarah and me to enjoy ourselves. It was okay if we skipped singing this time.
Sarah then told me to come and that we were going to play a game to see if the falling leaves would touch us as they fell from the tree. We sat still, felt the warm morning air, and watched the leaves float around us in a gentle breeze. Up until this point, I hadn't even noticed what a beautiful morning it was.
You have probably heard the saying, "The present is the present." Never has this been more evident than it was that morning with Sarah.
(In case anyone is wondering who won the game—she did. Sarah had a total of three leaves fall on her, and I had one.
____________________________________________________
Until next time...
The view from your kitchen window is lovely and so is the story about that morning with Sarah. Thank you for sharing it and the reminder to live in the present. :)
ReplyDeleteThat's a maple tree across the street. The maples are usually the first to turn and have such lovely colors. I always seem to be thinking ahead and I have to remind myself that, "The Present is the present."
DeleteSuch a good story. I enjoyed that.
ReplyDeleteWe can learn so much from others if we only take the time to listen. I certainly learned a lot from Sarah.
DeleteI was mentally singing your post title in my best Dylan voice.
ReplyDeleteTHe trees are just beginning to turn here, even though it was kind of warm today.
I love that you and Sarah had some together time just enjoying the beautiful day
along with the leaf game. Sometimes the unplanned things are the best.
Yeah, I was singing that song, too. I'm glad someone got the reference. :) You're right about sometimes the unplanned things are the best.
DeleteI recognized the title of the song and listened to it, but I confess that I don't know it. :)
ReplyDeleteI remember this story. Sarah is wise beyond her years. I know I've said this before, but one of the things I love most about autumn is that it is so fleeting--you have to take time out to enjoy it, because it can all be gone in a day.
It was a folk/protest song by Bob Dylan in the 1960s and has been covered by many people.
DeleteThat's interesting that you like the fleeting part of the fall beauty. If I think about it in a fleeting way, it causes anxiety. However, I do try to appreciate the beauty of the season, making a special effort to enjoy the leaves and not just let them become part of the background.
I loved your stories about Sarah.
ReplyDeleteIt's a story I enjoy too, so that's why I run it again every few years.
DeleteI love that story! It's a good reminder to stop and take in the goodness of each season! The leaves are so pretty where you are!
ReplyDeleteSarah was good at making me appreciate and see things in a different way.
Delete