Hope

leaves in Walmart parking lot January 11

My fascination with how autumn arrives in northeast Florida continues. Or does it come at all?

We lived briefly in Central Florida some twenty-two years ago, but there weren't as many trees near to our house as we have now, so I don't remember anything about what autumn looked like back then. We were in that house less than a year before returning to Colorado. Ever since then, I have wondered, do the trees have any autumn color in Florida?

Yes, they do, but they don't even begin to change until at least Thanksgiving, and I suppose now that we are nearing mid-January, we're probably at the 'height of the season', so to speak. 

Some leaves have fallen but I suspect what will happen is the new spring leaves will literally push the old autumn leaves off the branches. All of this is so contrary to what I am used to in a place with four seasons clearly seen through twelve months of the year.

Our world, the climate, people -- all are changing rapidly, often in shocking ways. Sometimes we can't help but wonder just what 'season' it is that we are really in, and who is really in control?

Though the fig tree should not blossom,

nor fruit be on the vines,

the produce of the olive fail

and the fields yield no food,

the flock be cut off from the fold

and there be no herd in the stalls,

yet I will rejoice in the Lord;

I will take joy in the God of my salvation.

Habakkuk 3:17-18
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