Fall's Firefly Lights

Summer clings.

As pollen to the bees knees.

Despite what the wizened calendar says, I cannot shake her. I drop a grain of her here, a speck of her there…

Her heat still pursues me.

Even now the hills are plush with green finery. Wildflowers remain in bloom. Flip flops lay carelessly by the door. The birds whisper in the trees and tomatoes ripen on the window sill.

I’m not ready to say goodbye to summer.

As much as I love autumn, the departure of summer has always symbolized a loss of freedom to me. A new school year begins, programs start up, and businesses wind up for the coming holidays. Gone are the days of sleeping in, lazy afternoon walks, and piddling. Life begins to move at a frantic pace and time slips through my fingers like water.

Despite my best efforts at denial, however, the earth continues its lean away from the sun. The mornings are darker, and the air a bit cooler. The squirrels move about freely, preparing for their coming slumber.

Last night, we did our evening sitting. The insect symphony seemed poised for crescendo when something struck me.

Not a single firefly.

They’ve all gone.

I felt the sadness of days gone by in their absence. Marveled that we had arrived to this place already.

Then I looked up.

God had plucked up the firefly lights and placed them in His sky.

Oh, there’s nothing like a fall night sky, beloveds. Gone is the haziness of humid summer air and it seems one can see every star in the heavens.

The clarity of the night lights made me heady.

We sat, side by side, both gazing up into the stars. Silenced by beauty.

From glory to glory, friends. That’s what He does.

Happy Autumn to you all.

photo: summer's final glory, Bumblebee on Goldenrod, by Laura