Growing up on the Fall Line of Georgia, I was more familiar with pine trees. Of course cedar trees were sprinkled among the post oaks, white oaks, and assorted others—but mostly there were pine trees. While a student at Emory University, Atlanta, GA, I dated a girl at Reinhardt College, Waleska, GA . One beautiful afternoon in late October she suggested we make a leaf tour in the North Georgia mountains. I had never heard of a leaf tour. Dutifully, I agreed; it was a spectacular trip—I have never forgotten it. It’s beauty opened my eyes to the palette of Fall; not only in Georgia, but also the beauty of Fall landscapes wherever they may be found.
I often admired pictures of colorful fall foliage before. Nothing compared actually to seeing the undulating mountain ranges glowing in full fall colors. As I think about that trip now, I am sure I was a disappointment to my date. I expressed appropriate “oos and ahhs” and probably said it was a good trip. At the time, I gave it a passing grade; barely.
There are seven large hardwood trees within our circular driveway; White oak, hickory, post oak, and two smaller dogwood trees. Elsewhere in our yard there are a couple of beech, and poplar trees. As I write this, two million leaves per hour are falling onto our driveway and yard (please pardon the hyperbole). Yes. The leaves are a pain—and bothersome for a bit. But what joy they bring with their palette of color—and shade during hot sunny days.
Sometimes a twig breaks off with three or four leaves with an acorn or two. The other day I found such a cluster; I picked it up and stuck the stem with its colorful array of leaves and three acorns into a geranium pot. Jennifer at first thought I had brought some decorations. A friend of mine loves the drive to church along a strip of I-85 near our house; this time of year the median is ablaze with its own palette of fall colors—we call it “picture perfect.”
The Psalmist stood in awe of the beauty, the intricacy, the wonder of Creation. However, the beauty and majesty of Creation is beyond my ability to describe. I remember with joy how Jesus commented on the splendor and magnificence of Creation. He even said the masterpiece of human creation cannot hold a candle to the beauty of the lilies of the field (RWV. Revised Willis Version).
The leaf/twig that I found on the driveway and put in the geranium pot reminds me of how often I overlook the simple beauty in our surroundings. Too often I have brushed away a twig, leaf, or limb, being otherwise focused. It is a great reward suddenly to notice something of beauty in its natural state, unnoticed before. It can open a whole new spectrum of beauty.
© 2024 Copyright Willis H. Moore
Gods creation
Gods creation