Monday, November 02, 2009

Contemplating Beauty

By the grace of God, I am awake this fall.

I enjoy the changing colors every autumn; in fact, I think it's my favorite season. Each year I welcome cooler breezes, football games, apple cider and all things pumpkin; I love to retrieve jeans and sweaters from the bottoms of drawers. But this fall, I just can't get over the beauty.

I think I could live to be a hundred and never tire of the endless variety and combinations of fall colors. Day after day as we walk around the neighborhood or drive down tree-lined highways, I can't help but breathe reverently, stunned by our Creator God. Beauty is right outside my door, if I will only slow down and look up. These last couple of weeks, I have been looking up--and I have been amazed.

There's so much sovereignty, so much faithfulness to see in this beauty. Every year the leaves turn, fall, die...the trees stand exposed, blown through by cold winds...they survive, they bud...and everything is green and new again. Fall brings out the contemplative in me, and as I take walks with Elijah, enjoying the gorgeous weather as long as we can, I ponder. I remember: it's death that is beautiful.

Yet I also keep thinking that death is not the end--only the means to the end. The trees would not be beautiful if they were truly dead. A dry branch, cut off and lying on the ground, isn't glorious at all. These branches of blazing color are beautiful because they are rooted and grounded. They die for a season...but they will live!

(photos from our neighborhood color show: brilliant blue sky--these are all SOOC, not color tweaked at all!; sun flare behind a tree seen in our backyard; one of my favorite orange trees in the neighborhood; red leaves captured last fall--because I had to include some red :)

Related:
Death and Beauty
Part of the Whole
Compelled to Capture Beauty

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

These pictures are absolutely stunning! I'm so glad you had your eyes open and your camera in tow...just wish I was there to take the walk with you and E.
Grandma Sue

Tom Gabbard said...

Beautiful pictures indeed! The glory of the Creator is vividly seen in His majestic artistry!

Kristin said...

Have you ever been to New England in the fall? This is probably the time of year I miss Maine most.

Amy said...

I've never been to New England at all, Kristin! :( unless you count driving through there on our way up to New Brunswick with Brother's Keeper in college. but that was in August. I hope someday!

Zoanna said...

The thought crossed my mind this morning as I drove thru the 'hood: "Fall never gets old. Year after year it's gorgeous. It just never, ever gets old to me!" Your pics are stunning. Love the up close red leaves.

Zoanna said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

I am always taken aback. The colour, the sunlight , it is glorious.

zoanna said...

I removed by second comment cuz it was a duplicate.

melissa said...

Beautiful!

Sarah D. said...

Beautiful pictures!

Unknown said...

The huge yellow tree reminds me of our silver maple in the front yard. A couple of weeks ago Matthew and I were outside an he kept looking at his hands, the ground and then the tree. He said "Daddy our tree is making me and you yellow!" I never saw that tree as beautiful as the moment he said that.