[Originally posted at (in)courage.]

Soft breeze at my back, I set forth with two daughters on an afternoon walk, second day of fall…

Fallen leaves crackle and crunch beneath my feet as the beauty of God’s creation is revealed anew in the change of season.

Mushrooms inspire a childlike wonder as their delicacy and intricacy of shape and design is revealed. I lie in the grass and inspect them from all sides, idly wondering if my neighbors think my behavior strange.

A magnolia blossom, lemon-scent sweet as perfume, extends to me a velvety petal filled with tiny loosened stamens.

I return home refreshed, thankful that God shared with us a glimpse of His infinite creativity and beauty on this fine fall afternoon.