The other day I was in the middle of a hurried week. My ‘to-do’ list was getting longer by the second. Every time I looked at it, I felt confused about what to do first, so mostly I was running in circles. Standing in line at Target, I checked email from my phone. There was a message from my friend Jenn: “The trees are stunning. Interesting that the leaves are the most beautiful as they’re dying.”
For a brief moment, time slowed. Jenn’s words went straight to my heart where I knew they would swirl around gently until I caught the message.
The next morning, still thinking about what God might be saying to me, I asked The Husband: ” If age compares to seasons, what season are we in”?
The corners of his mouth hinted upward, “probably autumn, does that bother you?”
“Nope”.
A few hours later standing on our upper deck, I stared at sunlight filtering through autumn leaves and prayed, I feel like you have a message for me Father, what is it?
The trees looked celestial, transforming their little space into a glorious display of purple- reds and orangey-yellows that made me almost forget their former selves. Most of them anyway. There were a few trees that seemed to be skipping the whole autumn display of color stage and moving from luscious green to crispy brown in a matter of weeks.
But why, I wondered. Why were some red, some yellow, some just ugly brown?
I stepped inside and did what I sometimes do when I’m wondering about things…
I googled.
What I found was interesting on a couple of levels. Hang with me for a second…
Seems that some trees build up pigments over the spring and summer, when the leaves are young and green. When the green (chlorophyll) diminishes in autumn, the yellow pigments that were already there become dominant.
Hummmm, so in life perhaps, some people build up beauty in their youth. The kind of beauty that’s inside and doesn’t fade. Beauty in the form of Godly attributes like gentleness, humility, meekness, kindness and patience. When their youth diminishes, their inner beauty shines through. And it’s rather glorious.
I know people like that.
But what about those people who move into the autumn of life without a lot of inner beauty, is there hope for them…for me?
Well, it seems that those redish autumn leaves have an entirely different process:
As the chlorophyll diminishes, a red pigment, which was not previously present, is produced in the leaf.
Here’s what one source says about this phenomenon:
“…the trees expend resources on creating red pigments just as they are about to shed their leaves”
So these trees flourish just in the nick of time.
Whew.
I know people like that too. I think I may be one of them.
“Father“, I breathed deep and whispered a prayer, “help me expend my energy on things that last. And please, don’t let me move through this season without beauty like those trees that go from green to brown…”
I grabbed my never ending to-do list and felt absolutely no confusion about what to do next.
*****
I’m still counting gifts~ #991- choices made easy when I see them through autumnal eyes.
~Have a beautiful day Sweet Ones~
JoAnne says
November 9, 2011 at 7:27 amSuch a beautiful post Robin ~ so meaningful and heartfelt. I know what you mean about running in circles sometimes and what’s really important seems to get passed by. I love your message about the seasons of life but I have a feeling that you are one of those bright, beautiful yellow leaves!!
Robin says
November 9, 2011 at 10:10 amJoAnne, running in circles is so easy to get into ! thank you for your sweet and encouraging words…xo
Glenis Lawrence says
November 9, 2011 at 8:10 amThank you for this heart touching post this morning…fall has always been my favorite season, now I have even a bit more knowledge and reason to love it!! Only our Father could make these seasons so amazing…I thank Him for blessing me with you.
Robin says
November 9, 2011 at 10:10 amGlenis, fall is my favorite season too! I thought probably everyone would already know this about leaves but decided to just throw it out there anyway! xo
Cindy says
November 9, 2011 at 8:14 amWhat a beautiful post! How much it meant to me. My father passed away just a month ago. I did a post on it called “It is Well With My Soul”. I was at my Father’s bedside when he was in the ER and as he was dying the next day and I never saw such beauty exude from his spirit as I saw in those 24 hours. It was without a doubt, his finest moments as in severe pain he gave praise to the Lord and spoke blessings over his family. I remember thinking, “I want to die this sweetly” and then my next thought was, “I want to live this sweetly”. Thank you for sharing this beautiful story of the leaves. I will always now equate the turning of the leaves with his sweet passing on to be with the Lord. Deeply touched.
Cindy
Robin says
November 9, 2011 at 10:09 amCindy…I emailed you, your comment touched me deeply. xo
Brenda Osborne says
November 9, 2011 at 8:31 amRobin you inspire me with your words. You posses an inner beauty that is rare.
You have the ability to make everyone feel special and important. Thank you for sharing your heart with me and countless others through your blog.
Beautiful post from a beautiful person~
Robin says
November 9, 2011 at 10:08 amSparkle P- thank you for always encouraging me. love u
Julie Garmon says
November 9, 2011 at 8:51 amTotally Divine Inspiration. Thank you, thank you, for listening to that Still Small Voice. He spoke to me through you just now. Brilliant, Robin.
From a red-leaf friend in her autumn season. 🙂
Robin says
November 9, 2011 at 10:07 amOh Julie…you have so much built up beauty my friend. love you to the moon.
SusanD says
November 9, 2011 at 8:57 amThose are such profound words of wisdom. I repeated your prayer….for you and for me. Thank you so much for sharing. Blessings, SusanD
Robin says
November 9, 2011 at 10:06 amSusanD…thank you Sweet One for saying a prayer for me. xo
Tom says
November 9, 2011 at 9:04 amI am so thankful for your gifts! The way you can write your conversations with God are so intense in such a soft and humble way. Yes, you are vibrant in your autumnal years my friend. I am thankful that, like the trees, you allow all the world to see!
Robin says
November 9, 2011 at 10:06 amTom, you are so encouraging my friend. And since we are the same age I can say you’re vibrant in your autumnal years too!!!
Gina says
November 9, 2011 at 10:02 amI love how you see things through spiritual eyes and are able to beautifully convey what God is teaching you. 🙂 Everything that happens in our life is not random and God wants us to slow down and learn from Him. If we will. By the way, I google everything too. 😉
Robin says
November 9, 2011 at 10:05 amGina, He’s always teaching us isn’t He? I am slowlllly learning to listen. love to you
Shannon says
November 9, 2011 at 10:03 amThis is perfection…a beautiful melding of word & image. You, dear one, are so grace filled. Love you in any season and hue…xoxoxo
Robin says
November 9, 2011 at 10:04 amShan, love u Sweet Pea.
r.elliott says
November 9, 2011 at 10:29 amhttp://tuningmyhearttopraise.blogspot.com/2011/11/this-journey-of-faith-this-journey-of.html
great post…I too am in autumn. I told the Lord…I want to be gray and gracious…hum…I am graying more slowly than most….I guess He sees I need time….
Blessings to your autumn of life…
jenn nahrstadt says
November 9, 2011 at 12:02 pmi read your text on the way home, and took in all my eyes could while i was driving up 400. this year’s season of exulatation and exaltation has been beyond compare, if you ask me! i’m so thankful for the knowledge about the creation of pigment in the leaves, as your analogy then provides possibilities for all, no matter their season of life. so like our Father, to provide all with opportunity to bring Him glory! rejoicing in His message to you, dearheart. you are quite the gift to me.
Robin says
November 10, 2011 at 7:24 amJenn, thank you for always encouraging me my friend. xo
jenn nahrstadt says
November 9, 2011 at 12:03 pmi meant exultation!
The Single Nester says
November 9, 2011 at 1:40 pmSeeing the beauty of Fall, my favorite season, always reminds me of God’s beauty. Fall never lasts long enough.
Robin says
November 10, 2011 at 7:24 amSingle nester…xo
Victoria Paige says
November 9, 2011 at 2:04 pmThank you for the beautifully inspiring post this morning. What a beautiful prayer. I think I need to ask for that, too.
Robin says
November 10, 2011 at 7:25 amVictoria,
sending you prayers for a beautiful day my friend…xo
Juli O. says
November 9, 2011 at 5:56 pmBoy Robin…did I need to read this post today! Perfect for my life right now. Thank you for being obedient to God’s guiding! It was wonderful to see you last week. You Look Marvelous!!!
Robin says
November 10, 2011 at 7:23 amJuli~ we loved seeing you too and that precious boy! I think you looked exactly the same after all these years! You don’t age woman! xoxo
Jane Carter says
November 9, 2011 at 8:12 pmWow! This one hit home today, Robin. A whole new way to look at it. Thank you!
Robin says
November 10, 2011 at 7:23 amJane..love to you my friend~
Elizabeth says
November 10, 2011 at 1:06 amLovely post, great insights!
Robin says
November 10, 2011 at 7:23 amElizabeth…sending you hugs~
Vicky says
November 10, 2011 at 12:00 pmRobin, I read this yesterday and wanted to come back and tell you I thought about your revelations all day- insightful is truly the word that fits. Such wisdom in your thought process! Truly, I think you are gold and red, not just red, somehow in my heart I just know this to be the truth! This post was just so exquisite and its such a privilege to read here. Thank you sweet friend! Love you deep and wide…
Robin says
November 12, 2011 at 8:04 amVicky…you love me so well my friend. loving you right back…
Pinky says
November 11, 2011 at 11:13 amThis is beautiful!!! Only you could take a simple e-mail and turn it into this life lesson! And then SHARE it with the world! I think I am rapidly sliding from Autumn to the WINTER of my life….and I am not happy about that:):) I am trying to enjoy and be thankful for each moment. YOU are such a bLESSING in my life!!!! I truly believe God places some people in our lives for s reason and you are one of them. XOXO
Robin says
November 12, 2011 at 7:58 amPinky, I feel the same way about you. And if you’re sliding into the winter of life…I want to be just like you in a couple of years! You delight me! love u
Heather says
November 11, 2011 at 5:04 pmBeautiful, simply beautiful. Thank you for such an insightful, heartfelt, and informative post! Unfortunately we don’t have a lot of color changes down here in So Cal, (cacti and palm trees usually stay the same color year round) but I will definitely think of your words the next time I happen upon some gorgeous yellows, reds, and oranges in nature.
Robin says
November 12, 2011 at 7:54 amHeather, how wonderful to live in So Cal! Sending you warm hugs ~