Autumn Thoughts

I have been struck this year by HOW the leaves are changing. I noticed a few weeks ago that when the maples are changing this year...they are a deeper red instead of vibrant red and orange. They are also changing differently...rather than the whole tree changing...it's at the end of the branches and those leaves nearer the trunk are staying green. I find this odd. Again...my google fixation had me looking up why. The reasons it gives are one tree specific reasons. For instance, root problems or some sort of disease. That doesn't explain at all why trees here and there all over North Carolina have the same abnormality.

 

If you look at the pictures...the 3rd one shows how the tree in our front yard usually looks and the first 2 shows how it looks this year. It's beautiful in its own way...but definitely shows signs of protecting itself.

 

So here are my thoughts. North Carolina has been hit by a very severe drought this year. Did we get rain? Yes! But they were fierce thunderstorms here and there that had the ground soaked for 10 minutes and ran off into the streams and rivers only to get more drought conditions later. I believe these beautiful trees have pulled their nutrients in toward their trunks...to keep themselves alive. The outer branches are doing what normally happens...changing color and dropping their leaves.

 

What a beautiful picture of what we do when we hit our drought conditions. Do we not pull inside ourselves and protect our hearts from entering into the world until we are well-nourished and able to "live" again in the normal way? I do. And I have several friends and family that do...I know if I don't hear from them to pray more ...they are pulling inside to wait the storms and droughts of life. When they are ready and fully nourished, they will come out again.

So whether you are the one with colored leaves only on the outside branches or watching one with that scenario...enjoy your autumn. Give grace or give yourself grace. You will dazzle again someday!