The Story of a Leaf

“How beautifully leaves grow old. How full of light and colour are their last days.” John Burroughs

It is Fall in Canada. In mid-August I noticed the first slight change of colour in the maple trees. Since then it has accelerated as the cold weather approaches.  This year, though, I noticed something new. The leaves weren’t immediately turning red and orange. Instead there seemed to be an intermediary stage when they became a dull brown, before they burst into the glorious colours of fall. They will keep that glorious colour until after they have fallen to the ground and been raked into piles. Then they will decay and become food for the next generation of leaves that will come in with the springtime.

 Some leaves don’t change colour, some change colour sooner that the rest, and some simply become part of the grand overall spectacle. Something like humans, I thought, as we pass through childhood and to adulthood with all its complexities and responsibilities. Then we come to our senior years when we are free to explore those things the delight us and in the end, the memories we leave behind will continue to influence the growth of the next generation.

But even more it duplicates our spiritual growth. We spend most of our life being involved in living out the religion of our youth like a green leaf. We ‘do’ all the things we were taught were important; things like going to church regularly and being part of the activities there. We bake for the bake sales. Some of us polish the brass for the sacristy. We sing in the choir. We help the life of the church in many varied roles. And it couldn’t survive without that help!

And unfortunately, that is as far as many of us will go. We end up burnt-out, disenchanted and feeling overworked….for what? We have become like the dull brown leaves I saw this year. Leaves that perhaps were stressed out by the extreme heat of this summer past. 

If we have been fortunate enough to mature in our faith, we are like the red and orange maple leaves, changing the landscape where we live out this new understanding. An understanding that we share with those around us, thus influencing how they will live their lives out as well.

AUTUMN LEAF

This autumn shall be for me

the most glorious

of them all

for I shall no longer struggle possessively

to clutch life

but instead like a leaf let myself be blown

by God’s spirit

and whenever

I touch the earth

sing the song of the universe, 

dance in the power of God’s grace and with tenderness

offer myself 

to all.

(from progressivechristianity.org)