Blog #8: Autumn Leaves

 

Man, I Love Fall

The turning of leaves never fails to bring about a wistful sense of whimsy in my romantic soul. I know that the scientific process of chlorophyll within the leaves causes this change, but there is no way magic is not at play. Leaf changes from green to red to orange to yellow as the temperature gradually changes (in more temporate climates, or in Texas it's just a day). That has to be the best part of any season, the changes that come along with it. 

The autumnal cycle of leaves makes me reminisce of days where I would play outside with my sisters. We'd walk through pine trees in our backyard, exploring the vast swath of land that would become a bustling suburb in the years to come. As we adventured in our backyard, I felt enchanted by each tree, drawn into a mystical realm through the crunch of pine needles under my feet. Something about being outside and using my imagination came naturally to me, like putting on a familar pair of shoes. Being able to breathe deep the scent of pine and freshly tilled dirt made me feel like I was home, and it still does. 

Now, when I drive past that old house, there's a slight sense of grief. A small pang within my chest not just yearning for childhood, but yearning for the lost pine trees and forsaken oaks sacrificed for more spots for people to lay their heads. It may be silly to write these things, as that land was always intended for development, but seeing it go through such significant changes deserves some amount of grief. 

As I sat inside of a new house about a week ago, I found myself surrounded by the same autumn leaves. In the windows, sneaking in the doors, and covering the driveway, these leaves stirred these old recollections in me. I went outside and brushed the leaves off of the driveway, the trees clinging to the few leaves still left on the branches. 

So yes, I'm a hopeless romantic. And yes, autumn leaves make me emotional. As with all things in nature, I firmly believe they reflect a higher power at work in the world. I can see God reflected in the changing of the leaves, and how he has designed us to live in different seasons. While the spring flowers reflect his grace, the mortality that weighs upon me in the autumn also has a holy reverence in it's hands.