Fall is already here!

If you ask someone what their favorite season is, many people would probably say fall. Perhaps it is because fall is not as hot as summer or as cold as winter. The sky seems higher and bluer, a fresh and gentle breeze fills the air, and warm sunlight shines upon us. All of these things seem to refresh our hearts and lift our spirits. How could we not love fall?

Each of us has our own special image of fall. When I think of fall, I remember the wide rice fields stretching out in front of my childhood home in the countryside, with the rice turning golden as it ripened. On days when a cool breeze blew, I could never forget the scene of those fully ripened, bowing stalks swaying from side to side, as if dancing just like waves rippling across a calm sea.

For some, fall is a season of longing; for others, a season of love.

For some, it is a season of gratitude, and for others, a season of harvest and fulfillment.

There is one more thing: fall is also a season for walking. When fall comes, we walk. The high, clear sky, the refreshing breeze, and the fallen leaves beneath our feet—all of these stir our hearts and senses and draw us outdoors.

Here is an interesting fact. It is said that when we walk in the sunshine, our bodies release serotonin, often called the “happiness hormone.” This can have a positive effect on mood and emotional well-being, and it can be especially helpful in reducing feelings of depression.

We don’t even need to look up scientific research to experience this for ourselves. If the weather is nice today, simply take a ten-minute walk around your neighborhood. Feel the breeze gently brushing against our faces and take in the fresh scent of fall in the air. Instead of walking with our eyes fixed on the ground, let us lift our eyes and look at the view in the distance. Sometimes, we can simply stop for a moment and look up at the sky. As we do, we may find that our hearts gradually become calmer and that the thoughts tangled up in our minds begin to untangle and become simpler.

As we walk, let us turn our eyes away from our own emotions and toward God’s creation. Look at the beauty of the landscape as it unfolds with the changing season, and experience it not only with our eyes but with our whole bodies. In those moments, we may begin to sense the Spirit of God—the Spirit of creation, the Spirit who breathes new life into us—permeating the deep recesses of our souls, reviving and restoring us.

In the Bible, the word “walk” is one of the key metaphors used to describe the relationship between God and His people. Scripture records that Enoch “walked with God.” In the brief four verses that tell us about Enoch’s life, this phrase appears twice (Genesis 5:22, 24). It seems that the biblical writer especially wanted to emphasize this part of Enoch’s life.

When it says that Enoch walked with God, it probably doesn’t mean that he literally walked side by side with God, keeping pace with Him as we might walk with a friend. But who knows? Perhaps he really did take walks with God! More importantly, however, walking with God means that his entire life was lived in a continuous intimate relationship with God. As a result, in every moment of his life, his heart was aligned with God’s, and he lived fully in the direction God desired.

God does not want us to walk through life alone. God desires to walk with us. And so, even today, God speaks to us:

“Let’s walk together.”

This fall, I hope that all of us will walk more closely with God and grow deeper in our relationship with Him. I hope that our souls will become more deeply immersed in His love.

And if there are still regrets or wounds, worries or fears that hold us captive, I hope that they will slowly disappear from our souls—like leaves that fall from the trees, tumble along the roadside, and are eventually carried away and scattered by the wind. In that space, may true “spiritual serotonin” spring forth from the well of our souls, satisfied in the Lord alone, and fill every moment of our lives with God’s beauty and joy.

So, let us now step out for a walk with the Lord.

The Lord is calling to us:

“Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, and come away with me.”
(Song of Solomon 2:10)

Pastor Du Young Lee