Emerging Courageous online Magazine - Stories
"Underneath it all...Life!" By Bob Perks
Death and the dying of all beautiful things around you is what many see in the
Fall. For some it is the beginning of a seasonal depression because of
the shortened period of daylight.
If it weren't for the magnificent colors of Autumn, it surely would be a sad
time of the year.
This Fall, like all the others before, kept its promise. The colors were
magnificent and the chill in the air brought warm thoughts of hot cocoa and
steaming bowls of soup.
But still, I miss the flowers.
I have to rake the leaves in my yard several times to keep up with the ankle
deep carnage of the season. The winds blow the leaves around like
drifting snow.
Even now as I write this, I know that there are several more bags to be filled
and placed curbside for the township leaf collection which ends this Friday.
Now the leaves are no longer beautiful and the crisp, damp air sends a cold
reminder of winter ahead.
This daunting task is one that I've come to dislike more each year. Both
the physical and mental challenge has created an image for me that I dread
more and more.
That is until today.
I began raking the leaves along the driveway. With little effort I
already had a huge pile which would equal at least four bags filled to
capacity. Looking around I realized that I had accomplished little in
comparison to the rest of the property that remained.
Standing there in this great sea of dead leaves, I saw my life. I
thought about the many times I faced challenges which were much greater than
myself but took them on anyway. Even in those moments of despair when
the task seemed impossible, I kept going. In doing so I found within me
great gifts and talents I didn't know I possessed.
Holding onto that thought, I grabbed the rake with more enthusiasm and
determination.
"These trees have always been here and I have always managed to get the
job done," I thought.
Just then, with the next swing of the rake, I discovered life. Yes,
underneath all that seemed so lifeless and useless, I found two beautiful
plants growing full force.
When my wife trims back our houseplants she never throws the clippings in the
garbage. She takes them outside to this very same spot and dumps them.
Although we have had a few killing frosts which put an end to the growing
season of most every flower planted around the house, these two plants took
root.
As the leaves piled up on top, they created a protective barrier which
permitted these indoor plants to grow outside.
How many parts of your life have you given up on? You see them as dead
and useless. Scrape and dig a little and discover that, like the tree
which sheds its leaves, there is still life within which promises hope for the
future.
Things which appear to be useless and dead are not. Dig a little
and find "underneath it all...Life!"
"I believe in you!"
Bob Perks