Foliage, Trees and

A thoughtful friend took me on an unexpected trip recently to view the magnificence of autumn’s foliage. It was an amazing experience.

When I returned home, I was refreshed, relaxed and utterly overwhelmed with the incredible majesty of the world we share.

As I sat quietly, mentally recalling some of the breathtaking colors I had viewed driving along the quiet back roads of Northern Michigan, I realized the trees really symbolize our life cycles.

The sharp, green buds that emerge each spring when the trees come to life are similar to the acute awakening we only realize in youth.

Those are the magical years when we begin to anticipate and comprehend all the potential unknown adventures the Lord has planned for each one of us.

We taste the intoxication of the first and sometimes, only love. For the first time we are able to view the adventures ahead with realistic excitement as we emerge into a world always larger than the familiar one of childhood.

Then as the years move slowly forward, so does the foliage.

In midyear, summer, when the tree comes to full blossom, so do most of our lives

It is during those years when we are truly embraced with the fullness of family and/or career, and whatever other ambitions we had once dared only to dream.

The Midsummer of life is a brief interlude when our world is in full bloom along with the forest.

Those precious moments, like the heat of summer, are the very brief span of time when our cups do truly over floweth.

Soon Autumn arrives, and at the moment the foliage in the forest reaches its peak, so does life.

These are the winding years of descent when we are saturated with the comfort of all we have accomplished. The warmth of love embraces us, and our days bask in glorious vibrant colors; scarlet for love, orange for joy and brilliant gold for contentment.

When winter invades the forest, and the leaves drop, slowly but surely, so does the essence of life. As the tree becomes bare, we watch those we loved, family, friends, those who stood next to us in the forest of life, also drop slowly, but surely. We begin to stand barren and alone.

Miraculously, however, soon spring arrives again with all its beauty and promise. A new grandchild is born, and life begins again not only for the forest, but for all who share in the glory and magical gift of each of life’s seasons. And we give thanks.