Leaf Me Alone

Seems like my neighbor's tree turned colors overnight. As we all know, leaves change color when the flow of chemicals into the leaves changes with the shortening of days. Wouldn't it be interesting if we all changed colors according to the spiritual nourishment we're enjoying?

God's Word actually compares us to trees in many passages. In Psalm 1:1-3, it states: "Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers."

Would I be a vibrant green if I were drawing daily from God's word? Would my haphazard habits keep me red and orange? Would I be brown or void of foliage?

Woolly Wonderer

While driving through the mountains, I kept noticing all the woolly worms (caterpillar larva of the Isabella Tiger Moth) crossing the road. Of course, I couldn't see them well enough to know whether their black and brown sections indicated a rough winter, but I kept thinking about how I've never seen a woolly worm crossing at any angle other than perpendicular to the road. From their lowly vantage point, how do they do that? I mean, they aren't tall enough to see that it's the shortest distance to the next green patch of grass. And besides, scientists tell us they're practically blind!

And black bears. When they're relocated hundreds of miles from their home, how do they find their way back to it so easily?

Isn't it neat that God equips them both with what they need to go where they need to go?

How do we humans find the right route in our lives? Psalm 119:105 says: "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." It's interesting that God's Word is compared to a lamp or lantern, which only shows enough light for us to take a few steps. It doesn't illuminate the whole journey before us. How kind of God to not show us everything that lies ahead!

When God's people were worrying about the direction for their lives in Deuteronomy 30:11-14, He told them they didn't have to send someone across the sea or send someone to heaven (or have a billboard!) for direction. He said the answer was in their hearts!

When trying to know God's will for direction in the next step, we should search our hearts. If we keep ourselves in his word and will, we'll know. Just as innately as woolly worms and black bears.

Autumn Awe

I was walking outside the other day when I heard an unusual squawking, which was getting louder and louder. I recognized it as the sound of a gaggle of geese, so I stopped and waited for them to appear as they flew over, headed south for the winter. The experience was well worth the wait, considering it was the largest V formation I’ve ever seen! A very majestic uncommon sight.

God’s word tells us in many places to consider His handiwork of nature, whether looking at how the ants work, how the lilies and birds don’t worry, how you can identify a tree by its fruit, etc. As I contemplated the huge V formation of Canada geese, I thought about how even geese are smart enough to take a rest. They take turns being the point of the V and taking the exhausting headwind for the group, then return to rest in the draft of easier flying in a leg of the V. Together as a group, they fly more efficiently for a longer distance.

I was reminded by a passage from Mark 6:30-32: “The apostles gathered around Jesus. They told him all they had done and taught. But many people were coming and going. So they did not even have a chance to eat. Then Jesus said to his apostles, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place. You need to get some rest.’ So they went away by themselves in a boat to a quiet place.”