Autumn Foliage

Fall brings in cooler temperatures, pretty fall colors, Pumpkin Spice everything, and football. We love look at the different trees and the variety of colors that are hidden from us the rest of the year. Deep reds and purples and bright yellows and oranges show up in a dazzling display of God’s creativity. As pretty as they are, they do not last long. For some, it seems that one day all the leaves are changing and then the next day, they are down on the ground.

So what causes the leaves to fall? During the spring and summer, a storm can come through and have gale force winds but most of the leaves stay on the trees. During the fall, a light breeze can make a clear yard littered with colorful souvenirs. What is the difference?

While it has not been confirmed, I suspect that the leaves are not getting what it needs to stay healthy in the Fall. Because of that, the environment is better able to affect the leaf and dislodge it from its place on the branch. Some leaves stay longer than others; some trees hold their leaves longer than other trees. In any case, they drop because they are not secure to the branch anymore because they are not getting fed.

That is a wonderful illustration of the Christian life. We can be healthy and thriving in a church where we are receiving what we need. There might be differences in what each person needs but there are some basics: feeling God’s love, taking God’s Word and applying it to our lives, and the encouragements to and from other believers. These help us stay “green and healthy”.

On the other hand, when we are not getting those things, our spiritual health disintegrates. There can be many reasons for this. We could let our feelings and emotions get the best of us and we are not able to receive those things. We may let the environment around us influence us so we cannot get the benefits from God’s gifts. We may even see the church or our relationship with God in a way that does not focus on getting what God has for us (Abiding with him) and so even in going to church, we are not able to grow. As we lose that nourishment, our connection to God is weakened and like in the fall, it will not take much to send us tumbling down in doubt, despair, or hopelessness. In this state, our environment will have more of a negative impact on us than it did before.

While the pretty colors are nice, it does indicate that the leaf is dying. As a picture of my Christian life, I would rather be seen as a leaf on a Pine tree. Regardless of the weather or time of year, its leaves are still attached and growing. Regardless of what is happening in my life, I want to be attached to the tree that never stops giving me my daily bread. What are you doing to stay attached to the “Tree of Life” and are you able to receive your daily needs from God?