| Have you ever looked at the world during the fall season and realized the impact of the changing weather on nature? As time goes by, things seem to start dying off or ending out. The birds leave for the south. The insects are seen less and less. And the animals are making their preparations too. The most obvious change in the fall season however is in the plants. The leaves change color, and the flowers die. Even the conifers shed their needles. In a season filled with so much death, it's no wonder that we have a holiday such as Haloween to commemorate it. A lot of people like the fall and Haloween. Some people hate it. And it's often for the same reason in the end. It's a reminder of how mortal we are, and therefore insignificant. It can be a very humbling thought to say the least; perhaps even depressing. Sometimes we can identify with the emotions that a wilting tree might have. Especially during a particularly difficult time in our lives or while coping with a hurt in our past. The wilting tree has a reason to be sorrowful. But there is a crucial error made in its thinking process. And I will point it out to you: When the seasons begin to change, everything else begins to change around the tree too. There's less music from the birds, and less activity from the ants. The squirrels don't play as much. And the sky isn't as bright as it used to be. The other trees feel it too, and they become slow and reclusive. The poor little tree begins to feel very cold and alone. Before not too long it becomes overcome by the feeling of impending doom and hopelessness. In dispair, the tree begins to turn color, and loose its beautiful life giving leaves. It no longer bears fruit. "I might as well be dead" it may even think to itself. But even if it doesn't think this, the tree is still very sad. But the poor little tree has forgotten the most important aspects of its existence. First of all, the squirrels have been saving up their acorns in the tree for quite some time now. Without the tree, they would starve to death or freeze. The worms and the flowers are running out of nutrients to eat. But those poor discolored leaves are packed with enough nutrients to make a feast! The ants have been working hard, and will soon seal themselves up for a long winter break under the protection of the tree's roots. Then when the ice cold chills come, that tree might die if it isn't in a hibernation state (but it soon will be). This hibernation state also protects the tree from the pain that it might feel when the hungry deer come by to eat the bark off of it. Then when the people come by after the first freezing rain, they will look at the branchy web of glistening ice and be frozen in awe by its beauty. That is of course, right before they bore a whole into it for the sap so they can make maple syrup. And so you see, the tree is actually entering into a stage in its life when it is giving most sacrificially of itself to others. Where everything about its current situation will be taken for granted, until its true qualities have been realized. It is a time when it can learn to sympathize with the hard times of others, and learn from it. And when that season is over, it will be prepaired for a whole new season of life and abundance to come. If only the tree had realized this before, perhaps it wouldn't have been so sad... |
| The Parable of The Autumn Tree by: Michael J. Meiners |
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