Seasons Matter

Having grown up in Manila, I never experienced the four seasons. In the Philippines, we only have hot, humid, and wet, and more often it's a combination of all three. So experiencing seasons is one of the reasons why living in America is special. I've always liked the spiritual parallels of seasons, and now that  have been here now for for full seasons straight, I think it's safe to say seasons matter.


There are some things you have to or can only do in a particular season, like putting on socks at night in the winter or swim outdoors in the summer. This is still so new to me, because I am used to never having to wear socks at night (except maybe in Baguio) or having the option to swim anytime of the year. I was wondering back in July why everyone took vacations then, and now I understand more.








Seasons change sooner than you think, and this can make for an expensive wardrobe, extensive interior design and special menus for each season. You have to store certain clothes, and have different footwear for the extremely warm or cool times.

I've wondered why God made seasons, and sometimes I think because He likes seeing the changes. He is not boring and can't stand things being just the same. And so even if winter or summer can be inconvenient, we have to deal with it because there's beauty in every season.

Seasons can be hard if you are not aware of how you should dress or live, and are not willing to adjust. If you insisted on wearing your gloves in the summer or swimming outside in the winter, you're definitely in for trouble. And since temperatures drop at night in the fall and spring, it's unwise not to carry a light jacket. Winter also is really unbearable if you think can wing it, dress like you're in denial, and don't have a layering strategy. (Especially for an Asian like me, layering is a must!)

Even if I don't like winter, I am learning to live in it. Winter is a time to stay in, enjoy family, bundle up, and to enjoy the snow from inside, with a cup of hot chocolate, a blanket and a good book.

Spring is a favorite -- a time of new beginnings, where what you thought was dead is alive. You can shed some of the extra layers and take good walks. During spring this year, I enjoyed looking at the trees outside my apartment and noticed changes in the plants practically every day, with blooms, flowers and fresh leaves.

Summer reminds me of Manila, of a time when I can wear what I want and walk around in flipflops. It does not get as humid here, but it's still unbearably hot. I laugh at how people want to get tanned here, spreading out even if we don't have a beach or pool in the area, but I guess the harshness of winter and the anticipation during spring just makes everyone excited for the sun.

And fall is just beautiful. I love the colors. Fall is a time to enjoy the outdoors, get together, cook, and celebrate. If trees were people, I am sure they would say it's painful to shrivel up, shed leaves and look like you're dying. Fall is also a time when you gear up for the winter, and that's definitely what I am doing now.

Each season is special. And God works in seasons. Funny thing is, we're not often content with the season we are in, not just in the physical sense but in the spiritual as well. But know that whatever season you're in, it's only a matter of time before it changes again.