Recently, I took a trip to a very beautiful park one early morning to hike and take some fall photos. Due to work, and dealing with other matters, I got to the location in the middle of the fall season which is unfortunately when most trees, had already tucked their leaves away. During my hike, I was loving the beauty around me. I started imagining the site, and how beautiful it would have been to see the trees in all their fall glory.
While exploring, and just enjoying what I call the residue of colors that remained, I said to myself, “Self, look at you smiling, laughing, and enjoying the beauty in the death taking place around you”. Because really the color in the leaves was an indication that death had taken place, and that something was about to be buried.
Release: allow or enable to escape from confinement; set free.
Fall is always that time of year when I am reminded of the beauty in the release. Where I believe God uses nature to remind us that though letting somethings go can be difficult, it is necessary. During the spring and summer the leaves serve their purpose by making the food necessary for the trees growth/sustenance. Due to the changes in the weather, which leads to the breakdown of chlorophyll in the leaves (absorbs sunlight etc.), the leaves based on the type of tree, now become a burden for the tree to carry. Without the chlorophyll, the leaves cannot do their job. The loss of chlorophyll also stimulates a process in these trees, where a special layer of cells develop and gradually sever the tissues that support the leaves. The trees literally start cutting the leaves off. Not only that, the trees seal the cut, so that when the leaves are finally blown off by the wind or fall from their own weight, it leaves behind a leaf scar.
This tells us that the lesson of release as taught by trees, involves cutting and healing which leads to scars. The relationship between the trees, and their leaves had ended for the season and they recognized this. The leaves were dying, but if the trees had kept hold on those leaves, it would have done more harm than good. The trees would have used lots of energy trying to keep- what I call- the dead weight, and this would have been a great waste of resources (energy). The energy expelled to keep the dead leaves, is the energy the trees would have needed to keep the themselves during the winter months.
After the leaves are released, the trees wait for the change of the season (winter to spring), before establishing a renewed relationship with leaves- they spring new leaves. New leaves are required in the new season, because it is not possible to regenerate the decomposed chlorophyll in the mature leaves that die in the fall. As I stated earlier- holding on to the leaves, would have been a waste of energy for the trees. Without the release of the old, no space is made for the new thing. Please note: Trees strip themselves completely bare, in order to live comfortably in this current season (winter), and in anticipation of what is to come in the new season (spring + summer).
There are times in our lives, when the time of a relationship has come to an end, and like with the leaves and trees in the fall amicably so. But sometimes, we find ourselves wasting needed energy for the next time period in our lives, trying to hold on to these relationships for just a little while longer. Sometimes it is because we fear being alone, fear the shame in having to say “that relationship was just for a time”, or fear the grief that comes with loss. Sometimes it is because we thought the relationship was long term, we wanted it to be long term, but later realized it was not so. Sometimes it is because we just can’t stand the feeling of being laid bare. Sometimes, it is not even our relationships with people, but letting go of things- because many times accepting something new, means accepting the loss of something else. To get a new car sometimes it means, you have to sadly part with the old one, and joyfully accept the new. Anyway- these are just some factors to consider.
With the end of the relationship, then comes the process of cutting and healing. As reminded in the case of the trees, this process may lead to us being laid bare.
Bare: (of a person or part of the body) not clothed or covered
Being bare at times can be so uncomfortable, because it requires us to be vulnerable and open to change. This is the time, when we have to see ourselves as we are- to see the flaws we would love to hide- but can’t. It is also the time to accept these flaws, show our leaf scars, pat ourselves on the back, and use our energy to prepare for the new season to come. No matter how uncomfortable it gets, there is nothing like laying yourself bare. As I am growing, I am learning that laying one’s self bare is important for personal growth. You are better able to handle the coming season, when you take the time to gather new information about yourself.
I have always considered winter a great time for self-reflection, because I mostly stay indoors. Unless it is absolutely necessary you won’t find me venturing outside often. So I lay myself bare, get vulnerable- go through an evaluation process, lay before God- all with a few questions in mind- Is there anything new that I have learned about myself? How have I handled my difficulties thus far? Are there any areas needing improvement that will help me achieve my goals? For when the time comes to sprout new leaves, I desire to be prepared.
During the fall season, the time period for the leaves to have fulfilled their purpose for the trees comes to an end, and the time for them to flood our environment with an array of colors begins. If only for a short time, we are reminded that there is great beauty in the release of old things. So today as we seek to venture into new arenas, and take on new challenges, let us- like the trees we marvel at and admire in the fall, find/create beauty in the release.
Thank you for reading,
-Ashley #followerofChrist
Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. (www.biblegateway.com)
References:
https://www.esf.edu/pubprog/brochure/leaves/leaves.htm
