Autumn Leaves

Autumn has always been a favourite time of the year for me. I love to wrap up warm, with hats and scarfs, for some country walks and enjoy the beauty of the many different colours of the trees around me. I also love listening to the noise from the leaves as they are disturbed by little, or not so little 🙈, feet, walking through the large piles that have been gathered together by the wind. I think I developed this love, walking home from school as a child. There is a house at the top of my parents' street that has a row of trees running along their garden wall next to the pavement. Every year, at this time, there would be a long pile of leaves for me to plow my way through. I’m sure the neighbours loved me for scattering them everywhere!

Every year, at this time, we holiday near Pitlochry. The colours as the trees begin to change are stunning. I have to say the drive from Perth to Pitlochry has to be one of my favourites.

We are also fortunate to live next to the famous Dumfries House Estate, now owned by the Prince of Wales’ charity, The Princes Trust. The walks there, at this time of year, words cannot begin to describe, as all of the different types of trees display every autumn colour possible . As a child I lived close to the edge of the estate and spent many autumns there hunting for chestnuts from a few favourite trees.

We are also blessed with lots of trees in our own garden and surrounding us. I can easily waste so much time standing at the window daydreaming as I stare at them all.

These last couple of weeks I’ve had plenty of time to do so, with covid in the house and other nasty viruses too. I haven’t yet been able to enjoy a walk at Dumfries Estate to see all the different trees and I’m sure by the time I do all the chestnuts will be long gone! The leaves are beginning to fall around the garden, much to Calums annoyance. (He’s not a fan of this part of autumn.)

There are various types of trees in our garden and that means lots of different colours. Probably Calums least favourite tree is a type of copper tree. The leaves are always a lovely colour, but the minute the light starts to get less and the temperature begins to drop, it sheds its leaves all over his grass making such a mess. It doesn’t take long for it to stand empty and barren for the rest of the year.

We have a lot of trees and bushes that don’t lose their leaves quite as quickly, however their leaves aren't that impressive and they just slowly turn from a lovely green to an ugly tinge of yellow. They aren’t anything special and look pretty drab in comparison to others. Eventually their leaves start to fall and before long they too are left standing barren and exposed.

We have quite a few evergreen trees in our garden. They are impressively tall and strong. A constant backdrop throughout the year. Even in the ten years we have been in this house the difference in the height of them is unbelievable. Regardless of the weather, season or temperature they remain unchanged. In the spring the only difference is that the tips of the branches become a lighter green showing that new growth is coming. Nothing impressive or spectacular though. I would definitely say these are Calums favourite, they don't make any mess for him to clear up.

I have to say though, my favourite is the beech tree, directly opposite the back of our house. It has grown a lot over the last ten years too. It’s branches are thick and full of leaves. It is beginning to turn now and I have had the privilege, these last few days, in isolation, to have a front row seat to witness it in all its glory. It is still 2/3rds green, but the many different shades of yellow and orange have started spreading through it. It is the perfect example of the autumn colours. It also doesn't seem to shed its leaves as quickly as the others and I’m sure that by spring next year we will still be gathering up leaves that have been falling from it. Usually, when the kids go back out to the trampoline at the end of winter they have to kick a thick layer of beech leaves from the surface.

As I’ve spent all this time in the house, I’ve been thinking about what type of tree I correspond with. Not during the different seasons of the year, but when exposed to difficult situations and changes in life. When life gets a bit darker, colder and the strong wind of difficulties blows against me.

I have to confess, there is something about us all isolating in the house, that I find comforting and reassuring. I can control the environment around me. I’m not exposed to situations, people or conversations that are challenging or difficult. My faith isn’t tested the same and I don’t need to practice the same amount of patience or love. I don’t need to apply much wisdom to any decisions as my choices are already limited. It is just easy living. It is comfortable and safe.

Living like this makes me think I want to be like the evergreen tree. Strong, reliable and unmoveable. No autumn darkness or coldness changes it. I don’t really like change, to begin with, so this would suit me fine.

I am reminded of this verses in James ch 1:15:

“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.”

This sounded good enough for me. I’m sure the evergreen could be described as steadfast and that is certainly something that I would want said about me.

But, as I was thinking about the evergreen this thought came to my mind. When I am out walking around Dumfries Estate admiring all the autumn colours, I never start looking for the evergreens! I am distracted by the beauty of all the other trees. The display of all the golden colours are mesmerising and overwhelming that I have no interest in any boring evergreens.

I had to go back and think again. Do I really want to be like an evergreen? Unchanged by all that is around me. When I am exposed to the darkness of this world do I want to be unmoved? When I, or my family or church go through times of cold, dark experience, do I want to come out the other side unchanged? I may admire the evergreen's stability, but not its intangibility.

Surely that is not what James 1:15 means……. Remaining steady and secure, but unpliable. So set in our way that nothing moves and changes us?

I read Ephesians chapter 4:14-16 “ We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.”

God doesn’t want us to be the type of tree that is blown around, flaky and constantly changing, nor does he want us to grow strong and tall but never change. These verses show that God intends for us to grow and change in order to become more like his son Jesus.

God uses times of hardship to change us. To make us more like his son Jesu. To display his beauty in our behaviour and character. This little chorus comes to mind:

“Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me,

All His wonderful passion and purity,

Oh, Thou Spirit divine, all my nature refine,

Till the beauty of Jesus be seen in me.”

Next I thought about the copper type tree we have. The one that annoys Calum. Its colours are beautiful, but when autumn begins it is always the first tree to lose its leaves. Do I want that for my life? The minute God brings challenges and tricky situations into my life, do I want to be ‘flaky’ and fall apart? I know I have been this tree at times in my life, but according to the verses above, I don’t believe that is God's intention for me.

I believe as grapes are crushed to produce the wine and olives to produce the oil, God takes me through difficult experiences so that Jesus might be seen in me. As a church we have recently been looking at the book of Galatians and we covered these verses in ch 5:

But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

All these are characteristics of God’s son, Jesus. Have you ever met someone so kind, patient and loving that you can’t help but find yourself drawn to them- I have. In the same way my eyes are drawn to the most colourful, beautiful tree in autumn.

I recently witnessed a dear friend of mine face the darkness of death, as two of her close relatives sadly passed away. She wasn’t like the flaky copper tree, falling apart easily. Nor the ugly yellow tinged trees, we have in the garden, that display no real beauty. Rather her faith was strong throughout the whole experience, and those around her witnessed the beauty of Jesus in her, as she trusted God to see her and her family through. Those around her were pointed to God, as they witnessed her pass through those trials and circumstances and not only grow but also be changed forever, to be more like Christ.

Regardless of how comfortable I am at home, in my isolation bubble, it isn’t a reflection of real life. While here, I won’t grow and change the way God wants me too. I have to surrender my life, conversations, experiences, relationships, circumstances over to God and trust that whatever I face, whether it be ‘spring like’ conditions or ‘autumn winds and chills’ God is making me like the beech tree outside of my house. Strong and enduring but also beautiful as I reflect the beauty of Christ in me.