It’s just starting to cool down here in Minnesota, though we topped at 80 degrees last week. The sticky, long, dog days of summer dredged deep into to September, and now in October the nights and early mornings are finally cool while the days leave us guessing and wearing layers.
But the trees . . .
The trees know winter is coming, and they’re preparing for it from the inside out.
I’m not quite sure how to process this knowledge that the trees have, but it feels important, kind of enormous. The trees flourish even (mostly?) in their dying. God has built Truth and theology into the leaves, and I want to sit at their roots and learn from them.
How do they know when to drop their guard of green and give into the process of dying to themselves? Why do they trust the timing, each and every year? Do they lean into it, or do they fight back, unwilling to give into the blaze of color?
The weather only slightly indicates a change. It’s cool, the breezes still, but deep down at their roots, the trees know major change is coming. They know they are to be robing themselves in color, preparing for a brand-new season of beauty, yet some remain green. Are they the ones fighting back, against what they truly are deep inside?
Sounds senseless, to fight to stay dusty and tired instead of bursting gold and red and orange. Casting off the wilted end-of-summer green. Embracing what is deep down in the core, the beauty He’s placed there to reveal in His time.
Maybe in the middle of my own everyday mess, mixed right into the frustration and feelings of being dried up and struggling to keep above water, He’s preparing me for something. Maybe He wants me to choose to take hold, to dig deeper, to look beyond the mess and frustration.
I’m tired of fighting back. I want to yield to Living color, the kind that only comes when dying to self came first.
May the change quietly filling the air spark the same in my heart. May I allow it to wash over my life, bolding and brightening each nook and cranny, sweeping the corners clean of staleness. May the cool breath of air fill my lungs as I breath in His grace, breathing out the old and allowing the new to take over.
May we learn, embrace, marvel at what the trees know.
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Bev @ Walking Well With God says
Anna,
Hmmm…very thought provoking…that we are at our most beautiful when we are dying to self. I love the theology of the trees. Why do I fight against it? Trying to hold onto my green when I’m tired and worn from being parched in the summer heat? There truly is beauty in the letting go…letting the junk, like leaves, fall from my life. Letting go of what I struggle to hang onto in place of trusting Him. You’ve really got me thinking this morning…thank you…beautiful!
Bev
Bev
Anna R. says
As always, Bev, thank you for the encouragement. You’re such a consistent, constant encourager and I so appreciate you!
“There truly is beauty in letting go…” YES. And amen.
Betsy Cruz says
Anna, this is so beautiful. Your post really encourages me because my family has relocated from our home in the MidEast to a new one in Texas 9 months, and the change feels good, yet it’s so hard. And I know that just when we’ve adjusted, it’ll be time to go back! A special season of CHANGE, but you’re encouraging me today to dye to self and embrace God’s way for me.
Anna R. says
Thank you Betsy – so fun to share the (in)courage screen with you today! =) Change is hard and good all at once, isn’t it?
Ms. Witi says
Wow…I didn’t realize (in)courage had a fellow Minnesotan as their social media coordinator…kind of cool that you are from “my neck of the woods”. 😉
I wonder if we are close or far apart….always curious when I read that the author in from Minnesota.
Anna R. says
I’m in Burnsville =) Nice to meet you!
Penny says
Anna,
Beautifully said, thank-you.
Penny
Anna R. says
Grateful to have you here, Penny.
Kristi says
I love this imagery. Thank you for this!
Anna R. says
Thankful you’re here, Kristi!
Sue Donaldson says
I was just thinking about trees, anna. our seasons are so mixed up here on the coast of CA. some trees in our yard finally decide to lose their leaves around january. it can be disheartening for this Fall-girl who’s too much of pansy to actually live in the Midwest.I like the IDEA of seasons. I am glad our trees remind me they are praising God in any season -just read that somewhere in Psalms–and that I need to do the same. Love your words about bursts of flame and color – so silly we hold back when God’s got all that color waiting for us and our world. Bring it on, Creator and Redeemer and Friend.
Anna R. says
The ‘idea of seasons’ made me chuckle right out loud! I love it! You just live via my Minnesota photos of trees and snow 😉
Beth Williams says
Anna,
Good questions Anna! How do the leaves know when to change color and what color to be? God said to die to self and live for Him. The only way to do that is to rid ourselves of “junk”. Trusting God is hard very hard because he requires you to change & change is never easy! There is a calming peace when one lets go of junk & worldly stuff. So let’s all choose to take hold, to dig deeper, and to look beyond our everyday mess and frustration into the wild of what God has in store for us!!
Blessings 🙂
Anna R. says
Yes and amen. Here’s to ‘decluttering’, inside and out!
Trudy Den Hoed says
I love this analogy, Anna. Dying to self, yet bursting to color. Thank you for this encouragement. I always feel sad seeing bare, seemingly dead trees, but then I think of the necessity of it to supply more nourishment to the roots and make them grow deeper and stronger. May our roots grow ever deeper and stronger into Christ!
Anna R. says
Amen!
Vicki says
Love, love, love your words today Anna! I love that God has put such lessons for us in the midst of His creation!
Anna R. says
Isn’t that just so wonderful of Him?!
Renee Lenerville Leach says
What is even MORE amazing…is that trees do not display their TRUE color until Fall. During the summer, the leaves are filled with chlorophyll which is what makes the leaves appear green. When they are dying…the chlorophyll dies off, and the leaves show their true colors. When we die to ourselves… then we become what God meant for us to me. The fall leaves are singing “Glory to God!”
Anna R. says
Yes! They are! Love that, Renee.
Joanne Peterson says
Anna,
Beautiful……this dying is so true, it’s hard. It’s what love looks like, Christ’s love. Richard Wurmbrand, a pastor from Romania who made the world aware of persecution in the eastern bloc, said the rose is most fragrant when it is crushed. The beauty of the trees is most blazing with color when they are dying. God is trying to get my attention today, I heard a radio broadcast today of dying to self too. I often want my comfort because it seems easier when I am weary. And I am weary. But, doing the hard thing is what would be best. I do trust God, and I will have to change my thoughts.
Joanne
Anna R. says
Most fragrant when crushed. Stunning and true. Thank you for sharing, Joanne – will be praying for you as you do the hard thing.
Rebecca Jones says
To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified. Isaiah 61:3, I put the whole verse it is one of my favorites.
Anna R. says
Great verse Rebecca – thanks for sharing!
Kristin says
Anna, it reminds me of people dear who have died well. In their faithful, joyful dying do they demonstrate how to live well to those of us who are turning from green to blaze-orange. We see in the fire who shines…and ultimately, it’s the One shining through us that receives the deserved glory. So beautiful. Thank you.
Anna R. says
YES. Beautifully stated, Kristin. Just lovely.
Melanie Costello says
In the midst of mess and frustration and Living Colour is so desirable. You have inspired me.
June says
Inspiring post, Anna! I always try to listen what the trees say. But they are ancient and take long to speak. We are usually too busy to wait, to hear. I’m glad you took the time to listen, to ponder, and to share 🙂