This time of year it’s as if the trees are shining beacons of light, dancing, waving their arms all about, desperately trying to catch our attention. Inviting us to slow down. To stop and look up. Reminding us to be where we are. Right here. Right now.

The writer, Dallas Willard, was once asked what was the most important thing for soul care. He said, “You must ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life.”

I’ve been practicing this. And do you know what I’ve been noticing?

Leaves on the path…

Trees framing a beautiful tower…

And again…

The bark of a tree…

Nature looking like art which was looking like nature…

A whole gaggle of Pumpkins and Gourds climbing up the steps of a brownstone….

That one perfect leaf…

The leaves showing their true colours….

And every bit of it? It’s drawing me in to gratitude and wonder.

John Calvin said, “There is not one blade of grass, there is no color in this world that is not intended to make us rejoice.”

Perhaps if we slowed down, we’d see all the things we have to be grateful for. Because, in the end, everything—every single thing—it’s all a gift. Perhaps we’d start a list of what we’re grateful for and we wouldn’t be able to stop.

And here’s the funny thing. The very act of being grateful, turns out to be a gift in itself. G.K. Chesterton said it:

“Gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.”

(That is the sort of math that I am especially fond of, aren’t you?)

By slowing down and looking up, what have you been noticing? Would love to hear (and see). Tag me on Instagram #sallylloydjones.