A familiar catch of wonder grips me as the colors--burnished hues
of yellow, orange, and red—come into view.
Set against a green landscape, the first trees of fall draw me into the
hushed and holy presence of Beauty. Such
artistry our God creates!
Driving up and down Bartlesville’s side streets in pursuit of
Saturday morning yard sales, I notice each neighborhood’s first trees: the ones with crimson mingled in with yellow
and orange. Is red the last gasp of life
before the crunchy, brown leaves that litter the lawns?
My morning of driving, then stopping, then driving again
seems like an analogy for life. I am
following the signposts to each goal, but the way there is winding and unexpectedly
full of wonder. I enjoy the journey as
much as the destinations, which yield their own surprises. I rather like following signs instead of
charting a route beforehand.
And today I reap a multi-colored harvest: pale blue summer dress, navy flowered
T-shirt, and velvet green tunic top for myself; headband with a pink flower as
well as a Hello Kitty placemat for my granddaughter; and Monster vs. Aliens for my family.
After lunch and a nap, I take a walk through my neighborhood. My predetermined route will last another
week, I hope. Once the leaves have
fallen from my favorite first tree, I will no longer plan my walks to take in
its glory. Each day the red increases,
working down from the top branches to mingle with fading yellow, burnt orange,
and summer green. After this tree’s last
leaf falls, I will let the signs of autumn lead me to new adventures.
