The Four Seasons

No, not Vivaldi.  Well, ok, we can listen to some Vivaldi too.  ;)

But, actually, what I'm talking about are the real four seasons.  I've been thinking about it.  I heard someone say "It's weird that a season when basically everything dies is so pretty."  And I hear people talking about how they hate the cold in the winter or the heat in the summer.

It's true that all the seasons have their good and bad points (ok, I can't find anything bad to say about Autumn) and that we all have our favorites (clearly, mine is Autumn, followed closely by Winter), but I think I'd like to look at them from a different point of view today.

First, to all my Iowa friends, no matter how much people feel like complaining about cold or snow (something I just don't understand, as I LOVE cold and snow), it really is a blessing that we are able to experience all four seasons!  Not everyone in the world gets to experience them all and it's really a joy that we have that gift.  :)

So, here's what I've been thinking about.  The seasons each have their purpose in the whole scheme of things.  Spring is for birth and beginnings...the newness of life.  Summer is full of sun, to help things grow and thrive.  Autumn is about slowing down and preparing for the freeze, and Winter is the long sleep, until everything wakes up again.

Couldn't we compare this to human life? 

Spring: We have a birth.  Whether it's our actual birth or the idea of a new beginning, beginnings happen all the time.  This is when we sprout ideas for new projects or new journeys in our life.  This is when we start fresh and see the world through new eyes.

Summer: There should always be growth in a life.  Either actual growth of a new little person, walking for the first time or talking for the first time, or the growth of a person on a journey.  After plans have been made, the journey takes flight.  Summer is about that passionate, vibrant living we do when we are adults.  Raising children, forging ahead in a career, working hard on a project.  This is summer.  Raw and strong and fiery.

Autumn: Reflecting is important.  Everything that lives must stop and consider things at some point.  It could be about preparing for your death, or a loved one's death.  Or it could just be the winding down of a project or a career.  Perhaps it's about preparing to retire.  Getting things in order.  Cleaning up the messes left from all the projects in the summer.  Sitting and reflecting on what we have accomplished and looking ahead at what is to come is an important thing.  Nature should remind us of this.  Even the trees shake off the old, sleep a while, and awaken new and refreshed in the spring. 

Winter: Sleep.  Rest.  After the day is done and the messes are cleaned up and we have taken off the work gear and changed into the comfy sweats...then comes rest.  Everything that is alive must rest.  It could be an eternal sleep, or it could be a short rest before the Spring comes.  Time to breathe and time to build the strength back up to start new projects and new journeys in the Spring.

Isn't it beautiful that we have this example in nature?  I thank God for the gifts He has given and the creation He has molded.  What a beautiful and perfect thing!

Beginnings, Journeys, Reflections, and Slumbers....each day, each week, each month, each year, each lifetime...they all encompass the full circle of the seasons.  Isn't that amazing?  :)

And here's that lovely Vivaldi to check out.  If you've never listened to the Four Seasons, I really recommend it.  Ironically, my favorite of the pieces is Summer (my most detested season, lol).  Listen to the peices and consider how it reminds you of that season.  The genius of Vivaldi is that he was able to represent the heat and the cold within the music.  You can really feel it when you are listening.  It is a beautiful composition!  :)

You can listen to the tracks at Last.fm (love that place!)

I like Vanessa-Mae's version of the Seasons, but I prefer Gil Shaham's version, which sadly isn't on Last.fm yet.  This version of the Four Seasons is good too (Performed by the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields).  :)

Here's a great set of YouTube videos for each peice.  Lovely pictures to accompany the music.  :)