As fall takes hold of us I am struck by the autumn sky. It appears that there is such depth to the palate. The blue seems a bit bluer. The clouds appear a bit more distinct. And the air has increased clarity. 

Sometimes I find myself reflecting back on those cool, crisp days in the northern states. They have a hold on my memory. Yes, the air is different now that summer is behind us here in the South, it’s not near as humid but the days are still pretty warm. Don’t get me wrong. I like the warmth of the South, on so many levels, but autumn in the Northeast can be quite spectacular. 

I have been particularly drawn to the sky lately, especially in the fall. I’ve always loved sunrises and sunsets, but sometimes when I deliberately look at the sky, it draws me in offering peace and serenity. I find the sky to be much like the sea without the sound of the current and waves. The sky is kind of like a silent sea. 

In contrast, the other day I was at the ocean with my cousin. As we stopped and looked at the deep blue water, we heard such a tremendous sound. When you are at the ocean, it’s not just the crashing waves you hear, you often hear a constant sound seeping from the depths of the ocean. However, at the beach today, there wasn’t that deep roar in-between the waves. Today it was more like being on a lake or a harbor and what was heard was just the lapping waves.

The sky on the other hand is quiet. Sometimes there’s something nice about silence. When I look into the autumn sky and just look, it responds just to your sense of sight. There’s no noise blaring back at you. You can’t taste it. You can’t smell it. You can’t touch it. You can’t hear it. But, somehow you feel it in its clarity and its overwhelming presence.

So, the next time you look up into the autumn sky, allow the peace and quiet it portrays take hold of you. At times we need to escape the noise and settle into a silent gaze and pause and maybe- not even think. Just be empty and allow the quiet meditation fill you up with blue sky. As Sarah Young said, “quietness is the classroom where you learn to hear My voice”.

All these pictures were taken in places I live or lived in the autumn