Fall is upon us, and this year I’m planning to really embrace the season. I always enjoy apple picking, Thanksgiving, and of course the little triduum of All Hallows Eve, All Saints, and All Souls, but I try to be a little careful about how much I indulge in the treats and other delights that characterize American autumn. Specifically, I’m thinking about all things pumpkin. The pumpkin bread. The pumpkin muffins. The pumpkin caramels and candles and décor and of course, the great Pumpkin Spice Latte.

This year, I am restricting myself no more. Bring on the lattes! Bring on the scented candles! Bring on the spice and the smell and the cool breezes in the fall leaves! 

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Indeed, as the evenings grow dark earlier and the news seems full of tragedies, it is all the more important to indulge in the light of delight — in the little things that may be transient, but are put there by God and our neighbors to give us moments of comfort and beauty. Delight is not the same as joy; it is more sense-based and fleeting. But delight does have the power to remind us, in small but important ways, that God loved our whole world into being, and called it good (Genesis 1:1-31). He made the color-streaked evening sky; the fluffy kitten who feels so soft to the touch; the apples that bake so beautifully into pie; and even all the elements of the cozy pumpkin-scented candle that sits on my mantelpiece. 

So this year, we might consider more deliberately embracing the gift of delight. Even if we can’t buy lattes as often as we’d like, we can stir cinnamon into our coffee grounds at home. And instead of lighting that candle as an evening afterthought, we might light it first thing in the morning, and only then start the work of the day. 

I’ve found that I have a more positive attitude around work when accompanied by delight. Yes, work is intrinsically important and has value even when it is not enjoyable. And it’s also true that as the kids head back to school (or homeschool) and the rhythm of the day changes, there’s a certain excitement to diving back into routine and focusing on work for a while. 

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When we deliberately pause to take in small delights, we can’t help but be reminded that we, too, are important, and we, too, are loved. If we can get ourselves to stop every so often — perhaps even every day — to enjoy the little pleasures of God’s world, what we are actually doing is performing an act of trust in God. We are saying to him, I know it’s okay if I give up control for just a moment and just enjoy what you will offer me. 

It’s okay for me to enjoy the small pleasures of autumn, or spend a few minutes watching the sunset, Lord. I know that you’ll keep me safe while I just rest in the goodness of your generosity for a little while. I know that you, in fact,  (Psalm 147:11).

So this fall, let’s not give that up. Maybe it’s worth indulging in a pumpkin-y treat a little more often than our ordinary habits would allow, just this once. And maybe we should get outside and look at those colorful leaves up close instead of just through the office window. And certainly we should have the occasional slice of apple pie.

God loves to delight us, so who are we to refuse to be delighted? In fact, I am pretty sure that delighting his children is part of why God made pumpkins and pie and all the rest. So our prayer in this season this year might be: Lord, help me accept delight this fall!