Earlier this month, my husband and I spent a few days in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and the timing was just right. Though nowhere close their peak, the leaves were already dropping seductive hints as to what was to come in a few short weeks. Autumn is my favorite time of year; everything about it shouts a wake-up call to one’s senses that’s impossible to ignore. I love it.

Most of our daytime hours were spent in the Great Smoky Mountains: hiking, photographing waterfalls and foliage, simply enjoying. Being surrounded by nature is my idea of the perfect vacation, and one day we decided to go zip-lining. I think speed is thrilling, and zip-ling definitely is thrilling. Heights usually frighten me, but paradoxically, I love zip-lining. It is the closest experience, I think, to being bird-like, and it’s wonderfully exhilarating to swing amidst the canopy of trees.

We’ve been zip-lining before, and decided on going with C.L.I.M.B.works this time, which got rave reviews on the Internet. As luck would have it, one of our guides was Nick, the owner, and that was a huge plus. Starting a business is one thing, but doing it on such a grand scale such as this–across nearly three hundred acres–is mind boggling. The logistics alone would be intimidating, never mind trying to convince a financial institution to lend the necessary capital. But I suppose that if it was easy, everyone would be doing it.

Spending the afternoon in his company provided an insight to the overall experience which was surprising and unexpected, yet very enriching. Nick is sincerely passionate about Inspiring people to Challenge themselves, Learn about their environment, Believing in themselves and becoming Motivated…that’s the true essence of C.L.I.M.B.works.

There were a total of ten in our group: two guides and eight zipsters. It took two and a half hours to traverse the nine zip lines and three canopy sky bridges, so there was plenty of time to take in the scenery while each zipster waited his turn atop the platform that encircled the tree. In and of itself, being surrounded on three sides by the Smoky Mountains was awe-inspiring; being there while the leaves were in the midst of changing color was nothing short of magnificent.

The view from up above is totally different from what is seen from the ground and reveals something quite remarkable. From that heavenly vantage point, one sees that each leaf is changing color at its own pace…whereas when viewed from the ground and at a distance, the entire tree is seen in its totality: golden yellow, scarlet, orange, or crimson. When seen from the tree tops, though, one notices that the leaves are much like snowflakes…no two are alike, and no two are morphing at the same time.

The revelation was as close to a spiritual experience as I’ve ever had. Each leaf’s transformation can be likened to any change one may seek: whether it be something relatively simple as resolving to stop snacking between meals or perhaps not checking one’s phone quite so often or texting while in the company of others….to something much more serious like quitting smoking, or doing drugs or alcohol. No two individuals change undesired habits in the same way, nor at the same pace. It does not happen overnight; instead, mindful changes are gradual…one day at a time. Over time, the days add up until, seemingly miraculously, a complete transformation has taken place. Much like the splendor of a tree whose leaves have finally reached their peak, the result is well worth the wait.

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.