There’s something sad about seeing autumn leaves. They
remind one that this life is temporary. Even the tree that supports the leaf has
but a sojourn, until it is uprooted, cut down, or dies because of disease or infirmity.
Eventually, all things return to their former state, broken into base elements.
The strongest structures, natural or manmade will all succumb. According to the
Bible, the world will end as a ball of fire. (2 Peter 3:10)
Meanwhile life continues and autumn inexorably follows
summer and the cycle of transferred energy continues; leaves turn into compost,
enriching and feeding the soil with nutrients that are then ingested by the
tree that bore them. In their lifetime, through the process of photosynthesis, leaves
transform light energy radiated from the sun into chemical energy for fuelling
the growth of the tree and for facilitating its functions.
Although there is a tinge of sadness when we think of decay
and death, there is a sense of wonder because of the incredible variety of life;
likewise, the mind-boggling inventiveness of God’s creativity and His ability
to put it all together. He sustains it too! To create Just one living leaf is
an awesome miracle in itself! And there
are so many different sorts, all specifically suited to their mother plant,
each growing where the soil and climate is appropriate for them.
When autumn comes and leaves are scattered over the garden I
can chose to let them be, or I can attempt the task of removing them to the
recycling bin. This autumn, because of it being exceptionally wet,
opportunities for tidying the garden have been few. Hence, leaves are rotting where
they fall. There was a dry day yesterday when I managed to clear a small area under
the Acer tree. Today, the rain has drenched the garden yet again, which makes
me think I’m fighting a losing battle, but on refection, it’s a battle I can
never win, for the power and will of God is insuperable. He places the leaves
where He wants them, and allows me to move those He wants me to move.
The so-called freewill that I have is limited, because I am
limited, unlike God who has total freewill, because He is unlimited. He is
omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent.
‘In the beginning was
the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the
beginning with God.
All things were made
through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life,
and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and
the darkness did not overcome it.’ John (1:1-5)
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Leaves
