Drab or Dynamic?
The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Psalm 19:1 (ESV)
Friends, the jury is still out as to whether our fall foliage in upstate PA will be drab or dynamic. It is still too early to tell. Some of the trees are magnificent and some are between army green and yellow/brown. Boring! While driving along the country roads, one can see branches of vibrant colors—reds, oranges, and yellows and then the trees become drab and dreary looking. They look worn out and tired.
Can we be likened to either of those? In our younger years, we had energy, spunk, and determination. Time passed. Some of us have weathered life well while others now appear bent over, dingy, and rather lifeless.
Neither of the trees are finished. They are not dying even though they appear to stand naked against the harsh Pennsylvania winter elements. Google says this: trees undergo a deep biological shutdown called dormancy—acting much like a state of hibernation—where they reabsorb nutrients, dehydrate their cells to create a natural “antifreeze” and seal off their branches to survive the cold. This time out is built into the biology of a tree.
We might all do well to take a break every now and then. Our brains and souls need to rejuvenate. What keeps us alive, vivacious, animated and bubbly? There can only be one source and that is our relationship with Jesus Christ. Our hope, energy, and life is in Him. Does that mean that older seniors don’t have those eye-catching traits? Of course not! We have learned to express them in different ways…a smile, high-five, hug, hand squeeze, or even just a head nod is all that is needed sometimes for communication. Less words rule our day!
Christians inherited a unique “gene” (the Holy Spirit) when we were grafted into the family of God and it makes us stand out in the crowd. Google says: Some tree leaves turn bright red and orange because of unique pigments and genetics, while drab trees rely on basic tannins that create dull browns.
As we enter this beautiful season, let us try to be as naturally spectacular as possible. Leaves don’t shine or sparkle but they dance in the breeze and are gracefully picked up and moved on the wind—whether they are vibrant or a little drab.
Let His colors be reflected in us!
Lord Jesus, thank You for all the beauty we can see. Teach us to be grateful for what we cannot yet see. Please show us how to be your reflection. AMEN.