Monday Morning Musing: On the Fringes

Somewhere this week it occured to me that autumn is out there, waiting on the fringes of summer. August is giving up its last week. We've had a week of cool, rainy weather and every single PNW'er I encountered sighed and shared some whispered version of "I was so ready for this". Out there, on the fringes of summer, my favorite season awaits.

We are also eagerly awaiting the arrival of all of the kids this week, in celebration of a milestone birthday (mine) and Labor Day and to hold space together for some change in their lives. I need to hug them all, maybe even all at once, like some big sports team huddle of the bodies I birthed. I've been bringing up pieces of our fall decor from their holding places in the basement - pumpkins and wreaths and such. It's a little early, but I want the kids to get to see them. And after all, autumn is just on the fringes.

I'm still riding the high of watching so many inspired speeches at last week's DNC. (If this isn't your thing, just skip this paragraph). That so many people, many of whom are living with the very real threat of having their rights taken away, can climb a podium and speak of hope....that just fills me up. And it makes me long for a time when no one is on the fringes of our great land - where everyone has what they need and those who have too much share.

I'm also just exhausted. Some of this is from the expected nature of acclimating in this amazing new call over the last ten months. And some is from the difficulty of trying to find space with people who aren't making it easy. And that's not so unusual but every time I encounter it I'm disappointed all over again. It makes me feel on the fringes of doing this work well. And, at the same time, I wake up every, (okay most days) and think that I get to do this work that I love with amazing, incredible people and that it makes a difference in the world and what kind of gift is that? And there's singing.

I can tell that this time with my family will fill my heart right back up.

In these days, when I walk out on our front porch, I can tell that autumn and everything that is next are out there on the fringes. The air smells different. More plants are dying back even as the sedum's hues are becoming richer and deeper. There's a shift in it all and as so many have noted this week, I'm so ready for this.

The view of our front porch from inside.

I love the way the sun was hitting the ferns.