Today as I look out my window on this breezy fall day, I am feeling very connected to the beauty of creation. I live in a beautiful location. My house is surrounded by trees and at this time of year, the leaves are all different shades of red, orange, green and yellow. When the sunlight hits them, which does happen occasionally in Western PA, they just glow with brilliance. The leaves on the trees are stunning. And, then, something magical happens when the wind blows. The leaves come soaring to the ground. Some of them spin in little circles with the stem down and seem to just dive to the earth. Others actually tumble end over end until they slowly float to the earth. Some start falling one direction and then the wind picks them up and carries them a different direction and then sometimes just before they hit the ground, it lifts them once again for a little glide across the yard. All these leaves are on different journeys, and they travel at different speeds and in different ways. They really remind me of life and its journey. Though all the leaves can represent that journey, I realized today that I identified with a particular one. A medium sized yellow maple leaf halfway up a tree that is smaller than its Oak neighbor. This little leaf on this smaller tree refuses to let go. As I’ve watched hundreds, possibly thousands of leaves make their journey from limb to lawn, this stubborn Maple leaf clings on by a thread. The wind is whipping it in every direction, and I marvel at its strength to hold on. It reminds me of a child’s wiggly loose tooth that refuses to give up and fall out. This leaf is hanging on. For what? Eventually, we all know it will let go and join the rest of the leaves in the yard, but until it does, it is taking a royal beating in an attempt to hang on.
I am like that Maple leaf many times. I hang on to things way longer than I should. I honestly know that if I would just let go, I would softly, beautifully float to new and better things, but I refuse and I hang on to what I know. I stay in the place I have been for a long time. I refuse to let go and declare a new season. Just as I shake my head and wonder about that leaf and its motives, I shake my head and wonder about myself. As I have spent some time this afternoon thinking, dreaming and watching the fall leaves tumble, I think I am excited for the day I do let go. The day I do drift peacefully into the next exciting season. I mean, what are my options? I certainly don’t want to be that lone brown leaf that we’ve all seen during winter hanging on to the tree being pelted by snow and sleet. No. That is not how I am going to go into the next season, and I hope you don’t either. Let Go!
18 But forget all that—it is nothing compared to what I’m going to do! 19 For I’m going to do a brand-new thing. See, I have already begun! Don’t you see it? I will make a road through the wilderness of the world for my people to go home and create rivers for them in the desert! – Isaiah 43:18 & 19 The Living Bible
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound! We all know the beloved hymn Amazing Grace and God’s grace is just that…amazing, but, are we as good at grace as He is?
It’s Advent and many of you know all about lighting Advent candles and having Advent wreaths as your traditions. During Advent, we light the candles of hope, joy, love, and peace, and traditionally, each week would focus on each of those things. But, this year, I’ve decided to focus on Joy from the very beginning of Advent. Joy. Joy. Joy. And, Joy. Light the candle of Joy!
I told K that I was retreating to my studio to write for an hour…I revised it and said “at least 30 minutes” because I have been working on writing an Advent Devotional/Bible Study for a while and I need to be more diligent. I made it to the room, tried to rid myself of distractions, had my cup of tea, found my notes, and began. I needed to print out a resource so I hit the “print” button and that’s where it stopped. The document did not print and my plan of writing had stopped. I did what everyone does and selected “print” again. Nothing. Maybe I didn’t actually select it, so I tried again. Print. Maybe I’m too far away from my wireless printer, so I picked up my laptop, sat next to the printer on the floor, and selected “print” again. Nothing. I checked my settings and made sure my wireless was turned on and the printer address was valid. Everything appeared to be set up and working. Print. Again…nothing. Finally, I did what apparently needed to be done. I turned off my computer. I sat for a few seconds. I turned my computer back on and then I heard it. The whirring of the printer as it readied itself and began its work. It started shooting out multiple copies of the document that I was waiting for. One neat and tidy document appeared….and then another…and then another…and another…please stop….another…another….how many times did I push the print button?! It stopped. Aaaaah. I now sat on the floor beside my laptop, my printer, and an overabundance of documents. I only needed one.
Honestly, some days I get so wrapped up in things that are out of my control. I feel like I have no clear direction, no motivation, no control. I don’t know where to turn and even though my Christian training tells me that I am to turn to God, I’m not even sure how to do that when I face overwhelming circumstances. I got nothing. Which as it turns out is exactly where God wants me because when I “got nothing” that is when I solely rely on Him. He’s got my nothings covered because His word says that:
I have written about this many times and it seems to be a life’s mission for me. We are supposed to be thankful for everything. Last year, I attended a seminar where the presenter suggested that people write down at least 3 things to be thankful for each day. One woman spoke up and said, “But what if we don’t have anything that day?” Are you serious?! Uh, you’re breathing! That counts for one! There is always something to be thankful for!
Jesus said to me “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. — Matthew 11:28
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