Tracks In The Dust

A Father's Advice About Learning the Mission of Life

Archive for the tag “Seasons”

20 Jun 2013

Summer Solstice

It’s that time of year where summer is “official” on the calendar.

Here in the US it is that time again to think seriously about summer. For many of us that happened back at the end of May when America celebrates Memorial Day. But for the science of it all, summer begins now.

It sill churns up all the great memories of what summer meant when I was a kid: hot summer days at the beach, baseball season starts to really take shape, get ready for Independence Day celebrations and barb-e-ques ahead, hop on the bike and ride to places to enjoy the out-of-doors (does anyone really call it that anymore?). There was kind of a feeling of anticipation of what the adventure of summer would bring.

Anticipation for the “lazy days“: Like my mom and dad planning a family vacation. Even the summer songs on the radio would be upbeat, softball leagues would be gathering at the neighborhood park, the dog-days of August were lurking in the post July heat ahead-. The world seemed brighter– may be because the days were longer and the nights seemed more available to extend the day’s activities.

As I have gotten older, some of that still remains. I think I worked hard to make sure my kids could feel those same remembrances, but now they are older now and creating their own. I asked my teenage daughter (who is days away from NOT being called a “teenager”) – where would you like to live as you continue your journey into adulthood? Her answer: “somewhere where there are seasons”. Her younger years were in the mid-west US, but these past many years we have lived in Texas where those season changes are so much harder to recognize.

Summer solstice is here. To everything there is a season. Time to capture this one and enjoy it.

Photo credit: artsboston.org

Posted in Learning Lessons Along the Journey Of Life and tagged Change, choices, great memories, Independence Day, life is precious, moments, neighborhood park, Remembering Summer, Seasons, Sostice, Summer, Summer solstice, Summertime

24 Sep 2012

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Another Change of Season

Its time again for a season change. Here in the US it is time for autumn. Fall. The time of harvest. In days gone by, it would have been the time to store up for the cold winter ahead. Celebrate the Thanksgiving day in America. But sincerely thankful for the great harvest that summer has brought. To bring the family together to share in the grateful bounty.

But these days it seems like it is more about reminding us that the holidays are upon us. We try to capture the “picture” of what it means. Autumn and Halloween decor is stacked on the shelves. There are a variety of gold,red, brown and orange objects filling the displays. Costumes and goolies all over the aisles for that all-saints night at the end of October.

Right around the corner are the Christmas lights and tinsel, perhaps dusted off from last year. A variety of Santa Claus figures and holly and ivy. Even artificial Christmas trees are lining the seasonal aisles of the big warehouse sized stores.

But what are we really wanting? That feeling of those colder evenings and crisp days. The fall colors of trees signalling the end of summer. That time to remember family and friends with a cheerful time that should be what we celebrate all year, but choose to find a holiday reason to make contact again.

I still remember the magic of those days when I was a child. Knowing that the holidays were coming and would mean a feast at Thanksgiving and songs and lights for the Christmas season. Going to pick that live Christmas tree with my dad that would smell so good when it got tied to the top of the car and later set in the stand in the house.

Autumn brings a lot of memories for the time and remember to be of thankfulness and good cheer. It would be great to have that all year around ( the spirit of God can do that if we want). We settle for less, we could do much more. But it is good to have the season don’t you think. It marks time and allows us to appreciate what the world has provided to us. Even in the midst of all of the world’s strife and conflict- we have each other- we have the seasons.

The Seasons and the Hot Summer Day