Autumn glory. It’s inevitable that someone will land on this phrase to describe the wonder that is the magical transformation of forests and leafy parks during this annual change of season. My commute from home to the office has been a delight this year, observing the emergence of the riot of colors along the highway. The spectacle on a bright, sunny day is near overwhelming!
While the various greens of the leaves all spring and summer are beautiful, this multi-colored display is cause for imaginations to rev up to higher, childlike heights. We suddenly ‘see’ differently. Each tree announces its presence with a hue distinct from its neighbor, calling us to take notice of each one. It’s also the occasion for the evergreens to be the rich, dark backdrop amid all the brilliance.
But why would God choose to make this yearly dying of leaves such a showstopper? People wait all year, planning the trip to take this year’s pics. I mean, in the US Northeast it’s another high tourist season (think traffic jams on narrow country roads, busloads of camera-toters blithely trespassing on private property to get the best light, the best angle for that perfect shot). But in all this momentary splendor, the leaves are dying! Is God reminding us that there is a kind of beauty, something to be quietly marveled at, something precious, even in death? Is this an image for us of the poignancy of the death of His son, that it isn’t about betrayal and failure, that it isn’t about loss and defeat, rather it’s a celebration of His divine justice opening the path forward for us to even greater life, eternal life in His son? Shouldn’t that be cause for joy, for a prodigal display of never-ending love for His children? We might think it unnecessary, a sheer extravagance, but God, as always (thankfully!), sees differently; think of the majestic, over-the-top, train ornament of the strutting peacock! So – autumn glory it is! PD
