Fall is our reminder that summer doesn’t last forever. Seasons come and go. Nothing in life stays the same—children grow up and get married, once-agile bodies begin to creak and pop, and trees display their boldest colors before shedding their bountiful foliage. And while most of us welcome the relief from searing-hot days, we can sense the passing of time with the turning of yellow, orange, and red leaves—the signal that today is a mere moment. Bare branches and gray landscapes are around the corner, heralding that opportunities in life are also fleeting. Some even disappear forever.
While this description may sound bleak, autumn offers the call to be wise with our time—to sense the urgency to share the message of Christ and to proclaim His goodness while we have the opportunity. But if we’re not careful, we’ll find ourselves racing through the fall and getting caught up in holiday busyness without taking the time to see the possibilities before us—the chances to offer praise to God, make changes in our own lives, and make a difference in the lives of others.
What can a minute or two of our time mean to someone else? A phone call. A grateful note or email. A simple word of encouragement. A sought-after answer or an affirmed decision. An offer of physical aid or financial help. Maybe someone just needs to know they matter.
ICR was founded on the principle of making a difference in the world—to proclaim creation truths where misinformation has clouded the minds of many. The Morris family has committed their lives and resources to reaching others, as we see in the Morris generations represented in this issue. Dr. Henry Morris III says, “There is ambivalence in young people. The Millennials remain the most conflicted, opinionated, optimistic, unsure, and unreached demographic in our lifetimes” (pages 5-7). Dr. Morris underscores the need for believers to share truth with others. Henry Morris IV reflects on God’s goodness (page 22), while his daughter Emily, a Millennial herself, describes “living missionally” this past summer in Taiwan (page 21).
Thanksgiving is a time to acknowledge God’s goodness to us. His grace, unlike the fall leaves, will remain steady, sure, and ever-present—even evergreen! But the possibilities to share with others about His provision for an eternal relationship with Him won’t always be available. Like the turning season, opportunities often pass, blowing in the wind the regrets of missed moments.
For those who know the Lord, fall isn’t the announcement of a gray future. It’s the signal that time is passing and that we have limited moments to touch lives. Thanksgiving celebrations provide the perfect setting to offer thanks to our Lord—to pause, to praise, to count our blessings—and to share His goodness with those around our table.
* Jayme Durant is Executive Editor at the Institute for Creation Research.
