I was enjoying a walk through the grounds of a country house at the weekend, which at this end of the year means walking over a carpet of fallen leaves of all shapes and colours (you can play 'spot the tree' above with the photograph I took!)
One of the wonders of nature is the way that deciduous trees shed their golden brown leaves in Autumn (or Fall), to be replaced in Spring by the vibrant green of new growth. In a very real sense, something has to die in order that new life can follow. But not only die, of course, for the leaves that fall will break down in the soil and provide nutrients for the tree to feed on through the year to come.
It's all part of the rich cycle of life.
It's a short jump in logic from thinking about trees to considering God and ourselves. On the Cross Jesus shouted 'It is finished!' before dying. Like the leaves that fall to the ground his task was completed. He had nourished those who were his followers, provided food for those who were in need of sustenance, and given the authorities much to chew over. Now he was to die, and rise again that all might know new life in the Springtime of his Kingdom.
And for ourselves? We live our three score years and ten (plus a few hopefully!) and leave this world with whatever impact we have had on it, for better or worse. For Christians hopefully this has involved the feeding of others, the sharing of love and truth, things that will live on and nourish another generation.
It's all part of the rich cycle of spiritual life!
And of course, leaves that grow old take on a beauty all of their own :¬)
No comments:
Post a Comment