"Should one faint by the way who gains the blessing of one mountain day? Whatever his fate, long life, short life, stormy or calm, he is rich forever." ~John Muir

Welcome to the days of richness! As I gaze out my office window right now, the sun is playing in the enormous oak tree I am privileged to see put on its seasonal show. I watch the buds form in the spring and the leaves make their summer appearance. Last week I observed the many children who play on the playground under its shady branches as they reaped the rewards of its year round work. Right now the mighty oak seems to be steeling itself for what is to come. Yet in the meantime its rich green leaves are waving gently in the breeze, while the squirrels who make their home in precarious places within its foliage, skitter back and forth collecting acorns.In several weeks, its branches will once again be bare and exposed to the cold, winter elements.

But in these days, these early September days, the colors all around seem brighter, fuller, richer, don't they? Is it the light? In part perhaps it is, but I think it is also the knowledge we have of the change that is in the air. And so, it seems to me, our work is to pay attention, to savor the beauty of each day, to store up our richness for the winter.

My goal is to not miss the leaves transformation from green to red, orange and gold. In fact, I noticed last night that a few leaves have moved to a deep,blackish red on a lovely large maple in our front yard. Before I know it that tree will be brilliant red, casting a scarlet shadow over the carved pumpkins we will place around its trunk.

It is very easy with all that must be done in autumn to miss the magnificent show of which we are merely players. There are school supplies to be purchased, forms to be signed, children to be readied. There are windows to be washed, summer furniture to be stored, lawn mowers prepared for their winter rest. For those blessed to have summer cabins there are pipes to be drained and windows to be sealed. The lists could keep us all distracted beyond measure.

But if we allow those  lists to drive our days, we may find ourselves so focused that we don't allow our gaze to move outward, upward. Looking down as we cross off the items that 'must be done' we might miss the sumac along the freeways turning their autumn scarlet. We might miss the morning mist that hovers over any body of water nearby signaling the change in temperature of the fall air. We might miss the azure blue at twilight and the sheer immensity of the moon as it hangs in that sea of sky. We might miss those geese practicing their formations, readying themselves for their big exit.

And if we missed all this, wouldn't  that be a shame? Wouldn't it be a terrible mistake to miss the opportunity to be rich forever?