I was finishing up the dinner dishes when my daughter, sixteen, slipped into the house and said, “You might want to stop and come outside. The sky is beautiful. I don’t think you want to miss it.”

I’ve learned to listen to that girl.

She pays attention. She’s attuned to beauty. And she loves to share it.

She’s been at this sky-sharing practice for nearly half her life. The first time she did this, she was nine and there was a little more drama involved. She didn’t just slip into the house. Her arrival was accompanied by the crashing of the front door and the racing of little feet across the room as called, “Come outside and look at the sky before it blows away!” The sky, according to her, was beautiful and her urgency was real. “The clouds are moving really fast. I’m afraid you’ll miss it if you don’t come now, before the clouds blow away.”

I don’t just listen to that girl. I learn from her. All the time. And here’s one lesson I’m learning: Pay attention. There’s something to see here, if only I will slow down and open my eyes.

There is a time and a season for everything. So, as summer makes its transition to fall, I’m challenging myself to pay attention, to observe one outdoor area, to watch it change. And I’m inviting you to join me!

Here’s How: 

1. Pick a view—an easily accessible view (maybe from your front door, deck, or driveway).
2. Pick a time to take a moment (and maybe your coffee) to stop and look—each day, if you can, during September (or longer, if it suits you).
3. Observe the changes from day to day or week to week. Consider how the changing seasons outdoors speak to the seasons you experience in your heart or home.
4. If you like, take a photo to document the transition. If you’re on Instagram and you’d like to share your photos, use the hashtag #ponderinglifeoutside. I’d love to see them.

Happy trails to you as you navigate the landscape of your life by faith ~

Natalie 🍃

There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens: Ecclesiastes 3:1 NIV