In the United States, we are well into the Fall. Also known as Autumn. Now, I know that not everyone listening to the daily Examen podcast is in the U.S., or even in the Northern Hemisphere. Whenever I talk about the weather getting colder or the leaves turning colors, I will inevitably get a message from someone in Australia, gently taking me to task.

But this week, I’d like to encourage you to appreciate the natural world, whether or not the leaves where you live are red, orange, yellow or green. In Pope Francis’s beautiful encyclical on the environment, “Laudato Si’,” he speaks about Jesus not only being in the natural world but enjoying the natural world. Just think of the parts of the natural world that he included in his parables: mustard seeds, birds, flowers, clouds and on and on. How could Jesus not have enjoyed the natural world? It makes no sense to think of Jesus as a person who refused to listen to birdsong or ignored the flowers. 

Jesus loved creation. How about you? This week, focus the part of the daily Examen where you consider what you’re grateful for on the beauty of creation, whatever it is, wherever you are. 

The Rev. James Martin, S.J., is a Jesuit priest, author, editor at large at America and founder of Outreach.