I love the scents on sunny, clear, warm Autumn afternoons. As I stepped outside, the smell of leaves burning nearby brought to mind childhood years when my dad raked piles of nature’s multi-colored compost, and one by one burned them in a wire pit behind the house. Today, as the sun began to complete its trip across the Atlanta sky, I meandered toward a maple tree in the front yard whose leaves radiated like neon artwork. Simply stunning.
I couldn’t resist being mesmerized by the beauty, and eventually decided to snap a photograph or two. It was quiet and still that day. No traffic noise, only a gentle puff of breeze every now and then, and no one was stirring.
So I sat on a bench and closed my eyes lightly so as to enjoy the warmth of the sun on my face and its scarlet glow through my eyelids while the week’s latest sun faded fast.
“These beautiful leaves will soon begin to fall and return to dirt,” I whispered to myself, “. . . and the gentle weather will shortly begin to cool to a frost.” The harvest is all around, and the smell of pumpkin spice permeates every coffee shop. Taking in this refreshing moment, I let my mind begin to wander into the sweetest daydream:
Why does a gymnast put her most impressive skill at the end of the routine? Why do fireworks designers put the big burst at the end? Why is the fourth movement of the symphony the most powerful? Why does the climax come at the end of the movie instead of the beginning? Why did God wait until the end of creation before He formed His most amazing compositions?
During Autumn, leaves fall after their most impressive brilliance. Yes, like the souls I’ve witnessed in their final years—while I was living my beginning years. It’s so easy, though, to miss their beauty by thinking they are just old and of little further importance.
And I remember thinking that way at times. They become forgetful. They’re wrinkled, with grey or white hair. Mostly they’re unable to run—and often can’t walk. They talk of years past but can’t remember what happened earlier the same day. But it wasn’t in wisdom that I reasoned that way. I know I’m not the only one who has thought like that. But in time I learned more truth.
Remember, “God chose . . . things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And, “ . . . chose [the] powerless to shame those who are powerful.” (I Cor 1:27, 28)
Time is the Master’s perfect tool to teach all lessons, settle every matter, and complete the most fascinating sagas. A master gardener, He carefully planned his landscaped garden and planted many amazing and imaginative varieties. He gave us light and warmth and water, and bending down to us, He lovingly fed. He held our little hands until we were old enough to understand, then watched us as we became. In time our knowledge and wisdom grew—all by His generosity. And then He gave us Autumn.
And after our leaves fall and return to dust, Will He not be faithful to complete us? I think now that if the Autumn of my journey (our journeys) is this beautiful, I can hardly wait to see what the Spring of the next will be like. And see at last what WE became!
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