RESPITE

A RELUCTANT RED MAPLE

BLUFF OVERLOOKING PIKE'S CREEK VALLEY

Thursday,  9:45 AM.  39 degrees F at the ferry dock, 35 on the back porch.  Wind variable, with light gusts.  The sky is overcast, the humidity 66%.  The barometer is starting to rise, now at 30.26", predicting warmer but unsettled weather.  We dodged the frost bullet last night.

   This has been a reluctant fall, but it is turning out to be beautiful.  The red maple across the street is finally coloring up, as are the sugar maples on the bluffs.  

   We may be forced to wallow in the tawdriness of our politics, but when it all becomes  overwhelming we can lift our eyes to the beauty of God's hills, and find respite.