Autumn...and the power of resurrection

Autumn is a gratifying season...when the gardens are tidied, fall flowers and shrubs are planted, jack-o-laterns carved, and the house is warmed with the colorful bounty of the fall harvest. The flower beds bloom one last time before another year comes to a close.

Virtually anything gathered from the yard, gardens or the woods seems to naturally work together for decorations...such as a scattering of beautiful colored leaves, apples, pine cones, and acorns.

Autumn is also the time when spring and summer blooming perennials are lifted and divided to propagate the plants and ensure their good health. Seed heads from the dying annuals are saved and placed in paper bags for drying, then stored in glass jars till time to plant and bear fruit in spring. The seed has to die before it can bring forth new life. The beautifully colored autumn leaves are actually dying. The green chlorophyll disappears from the leaves and as the green disappears we begin to see the lovely colors of yellow, orange and red. After they fall to the ground, they are naturally broken down by microorganisms and earthworms, providing essential nutrients for the roots. I use straw in my gardens because of how quickly it breaks down and makes the garden soil so rich and healthy.

Jesus spoke foundational truths, about the nature of life and hope and faith in a way that brought sense into a senseless, random world. He said, "I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds." (John 12:24) Grains of wheat must die to what they are if they are not to remain alone and fruitless. His message was not a superficial one. Jesus was not promising those who believed in his message that life would be a bed of roses, that all would be peaceful, painless, and prosperous. His "realness" made his message so powerful. Through his death (the victory over death) we have the promise of eternal life. His death brought mankind within reach of God. Life came forth from death and nothing is more beautiful and glorious than that! There is a redemptive power that comes from the cross....death, pain and suffering can bring forth redemption, purpose and new life and it sets a high example for us to follow. The daily dying of self...so that we can be more like him. We have to die... so that we can live!

"The repetition in nature may not be a mere recurrence; it may be a theatrical encore."

G.K. Chesterton

I See You (Rich Mullins)

Lord You're leading me

With a cloud by day

And then in the night

The glow of a burning flame

And everywhere I go I see You...

The eagle flies, and the rivers run

I look thru the night

And I can see the rising sun

And everywhere I go I see You...