The Hot lazy(?) days of summer are over once again and the fall routine of school, work and activities are back. With what spirit do we look forward with toward this time? In speaking to two sisters recently they were at opposite ends of the spectrum. For one is was a time of joyful anticipation as she looked forward to going back to School to see friends and to resume learning new things. The other sister was glum and kept repeating: don 't like school. I want summer to go longer! They had a very different outlook and spirit toward the fall season. As sisters are wont to be, they were very different in their outlook. Most of us can identify with these two views. We may have liked our summer/vacation time, or we may be ready to get back at it because we have found the summer long and hot, and look forward to the cooler, more active days ahead. Some of us may even have become bored, while others may look to the fall as a time of more restful activity because of all the sports, travel or other things they have been involved in. Regardless of which spirit we approach the fall with, can we also look to it as a time of count blessings. Can we use it as a time to discover anew God 's call to serve him in some way within our home, church or community? There are so many different ways that we can be a blessing to others and to ourselves.

We only have so much time to use in this life and how we use it will very much influence the spirit we will have within when we are old. Will it be one of gratitude and blessing? Will we be able to look back on our lives with a lot of memories of old friends, lots of wonderful experiences, good jobs accomplished, various people helped, rich rewards of body mind and spirit because of the way we have used our time here on earth? One of the sadder times I have experienced is of a time when a person was approaching death and they were looking back at a live that was wasted because they sat at home most of the time in front of the T.V. and never really got out much to do things with others. The long sting of soap operas, game shows, movies, and sitcoms now seemed empty and vain, that life was in its last moments. A good distraction at the time, but quite worthless in the end.

I would encourage to take time to reflect on your upcoming fall activities and life style. Will your life contain the kinds of things that will allow you to enrich youself and others, so that in the end, you will have a rich and full harvest to look back on with no regrets. No one 's life is perfect and there is no one who never makes mistakes. But, by the grace of God, each day gives us a fresh chance to do that which is pleasing in His sight. For to him will we have to give the final accounting of how we have lived and how we have used our various resources of time, talent and blessings. May you always be able to count your blessings and use them wisely.

Rev. Tijs, at St. Giles Presbyterian Church.

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