When Autumn Turns to Christmas

I went for a walk in the Little Strip of Woods yesterday afternoon. Leaves, bronzed by time and temperature, now fallen to the ground, covered the narrowing path and forest floor. In the center of the trees a shallow pool of swampy water had frozen into a skating rink for tiny woodland animals. A squirrel, excited by my presence, scurried over the frozen surface and found refuge in an barren tree.

Late this afternoon the dark of autumn was miraculously transformed into the joy of Christmas when giant, fluffy flakes fell from a winter sky. I sat in the church parking lot as the wagons and horses were unloaded and hitched together for an evening hay ride. Inside the church carols played, cookies were served, and families gathered to celebrate the birth of Christ.

I don't know how they timed this celebration to correlate so perfectly with such a magical snowfall! It may be that someone on the planning committee has a grand connection with the Maker of the Universe. He has a way of knitting together events and "chance meetings." I spent the evening with a friend who had also arrived alone. Neither one of us felt awkward or out of place. It was just like God put us together on purpose tonight.