Autumn with Anne of Green Gables
Lessons on wonder from my favorite October-loving book character.
“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.” – Anne of Green Gables
Something about autumn fills me with childhood nostalgia… This year it inspired me to reread a favorite book after 13 years… For what is a good children’s book if not one that can be enjoyed in adulthood?
My love for Anne of Green Gables began when I was 12, about the same age as the heroine at the start. She became my best friend in a season of loneliness and self-doubt, when I felt I could never fit in, thinking I was too weird and awkward to be accepted by my peers. Growing up with Anne, my dreamy INFP personality only became dreamier. I ran away to her world of dreams to forget about worries and imagine myself in good company. And yes, I did go through a phase of naming most of the trees in my grandma’s garden…
Perhaps Anne’s enthusiasm about the world around her seems over-the-top at times. Like something a girl should eventually grow out of. But as the years went by and I effortfully reduced my time spent daydreaming, I tried at least to cling to one of the habits Anne had taught me.
To wonder at the world. Gazing at the miracle of Creation with fresh eyes every day. Not to let any season pass by unnoticed. Whether it’s the fiery hues of autumn leaves, spring rain melting into the scent of cherry blossom or summer fields drowning in wildflowers and wheat. Anne had a talent for making ordinary, daily experiences of life appear extraordinary. Her imagination added color to bleak reality, but she was also more present and aware of beauty whenever it met her eyes.
When I read these books as a child, I used to think she must have been living in the most picturesque corner of the world. Then I realized the nature surrounding her was probably not that exotic compared to what I was used to. Simply, she gazed at everything in wonder, and with that approach every little hint of beauty can become magnificent.
When the same patterns repeat over and over again year after year, it’s so easy to take their beauty for granted. Yet every moment is unrepeatable, every place a unique treasure in God’s masterpiece. That’s why Anne would not let any of her favorite trees, ponds or hills remain unnamed. To acknowledge each of the wonderful gifts her eyes were granted to behold.
In this year’s golden autumnal light, I am trying to remember to wonder at the world around me. That means more than just noticing the pretty colors. It’s about allowing myself to admire the details as if my eyes perceived them for the first time. Childlike awe at the miracles of Creation is an ability we lose so easily. I am hoping that as I watch my daughter grow and discover the world, I can imagine myself sharing in the novelty. Because the beauty around us is a breathtaking path towards God’s greatness and glory.
