This has been a weird week.

I won’t lie and say this is the only time I’ve had to sit and write.  But it has been a different busy the past couple of days.

The above photo is a blast from my past.  It is the high school football stadium on which I grew up.  I ran track here, wore a super cool 90’s polo shirt to football games in Junior High here, wore an oh-so-lovely band uniform and marched here. Lots of memories.

Do you like autumn?  Fall was never a favorite season of mine.  Mostly because I knew winter was next and I’m not a fan.  But my husband has taught me to love it.  He likes college football, leaves changing color, cooler temps, lighting fires and pumpkin carving.  Okay, there is a lot to love.

Seasons are like a built-in Sabbath.  There is only so much planting and reaping one can do through the year.  Winter is mandatory slow down.

The cycles of life are beautiful if we flow with them.

And the LORD built them into His laws.

When a Perfect King created a Perfect Constitution, He made sure the earth rested every seven years, with no planting or harvesting for a full year (Lev 25:2).

He had all debts canceled every 50 years, the Year of Jubilee.  Slaves were set free.  Land was returned to its original owners.  (Lev. 25)

Every three years the tithe was to be given to those unable to care for themselves: the Levites, the sojouners, the widows and orphans (Deut. 14:28-29).

Even animals were to be given a day of rest on the Sabbath (Ex 23:12).

What a kind, loving, compassionate Creator.

Dallas Willard said, “Hurry is the enemy of kindness.”

I think it’s true.  When we structure our lives in a way that allows us the time to be focused on the Spirit’s leading and others’ needs, we have time to be kind.

Time to be kind.

That’s what I want.

Don’t you?