~Fallen Leaves~

Today as I ran a couple miles to train for the 5k my dad and I are going to run sometime soon, I admired the beauty of the fallen, crumpled leaves all over the sidewalk.  It astounded me to see the bare tree branches with yellow leaves against the clear blue sky.  I've always thought of April as the pinnacle of spring, the time of fresh leaves, not dead ones.  Nonetheless, I think that maybe those lifeless leaves may just be the harbingers of further growth.  Like sometimes to grow, one must start over completely.  And sometimes, we, like trees, need to die and lose some leaves in order to live with more strength.  I like the analogy Elisabeth Elliot has for using the example of an acorn and an oak tree:

"This of the self that God has given as an acorn.  It is a marvelous little thing, a perfect shape, perfectly designed for its purpose, perfectly functional.  Think of the grand glory of an oak tree.  God's intention when He made the acorn was the oak tree.  His intention for us is '...the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.' Many deaths must go into our reaching that measure, many letting goes.  When you look as the oak tree, you don't feel that the 'loss' of the acorn is a very great loss.  The more you perceive God's purpose in your life, the less terrible will the losses seem."

The loss of a leaf or an acorn is insignificant in the big picture. Yet the momentary pain can be staggering.  However, if it brings us closer to God and His plan, I believe it can be more than worth it.  Next week when buds begin to grow and bloom on the trees around my neighborhood, I will remember the work God does in us through those little deaths that ultimately bring us closer to Him.