Blog

One of the privileges of living in the Northeastern United States is the change of seasons. Each season has its pluses and minuses, to be sure, and the transitions are always full of surprises. One of the most beautiful seasons is certainly the Fall, as the span of colors is so pleasing to the eyes. As the trees cease production of chlorophyll, the true colors of the trees emerge: deep purples and maroons, vibrant reds and oranges, and golden yellows. Driving around the area, I take a moment to enjoy the sight of any single tree that displays its beauty before a harsh rain decimates the leaves.

Observed from a greater distance, which is easy to do living in such lushness in Western Pennsylvania, the gentle brush of the Divine Painter just demands oohs and ahhs, with perhaps a moment to pull over the car and take in the most magnificent of art: nature. It is as though God takes a paintbrush, and dabs red here and there, orange over there, yellow here, and so forth, demonstrating how our Creator was also Bob Ross’s Divine Instructor.

It is easy to focus on all the bad things that are happening in the world, as there is so much, since the media regrettably remind us constantly. This is one way to take a break, for rest assured the bad news won’t miss us; it will be there upon our return. Take a drive, be it to an area that you know well, or be brave and explore someplace new. It must be a place where the leaves are at their peak colors (there are maps that show this), and you are able to appreciate the view from the distance. Don’t sit in your car. Get out, inhale the fresh air, and imagine that you are in an art museum. You will be in a sense, for it is God’s Museum. It is open 24/7, and the artist is constantly at work providing you with the most stunning views of nature.

There are brachot (blessings) that one can recite upon viewing such magnificence. The first one reflects the privilege of seeing such sights:

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה אֱלהינוּ מֶלֶך הָעולָם שככה לו בעולמו

Baruch Ata Adonai Eloheinu Melech Ha-olam Shekacha Lo B’olamo.

Praised are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the Universe, that such as these are in Your world.

We can then add the Shehecheyanu Bracha:

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה, ה אֱלֹהֵינוּ, מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ וְקִיְּמָנוּ וְהִגִּיעָנוּ לַזְּמַן הַזֶּה

Baruch Ata Adonai Eloheinu Melech Ha-olam, Shehecheyanu V’kiy’manu V’higi-anu Lazman Hazeh.

Praised are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the Universe, who has kept us alive, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this moment.

May each of us be privileged to have the gift of time to take in this resplendent beauty that God offers us, a break from the events of the day, a moment to recharge ourselves amidst nature, just to be grateful for what we are witnessing on this planet that we call home.