It is no secret that I love the beautiful autumn leaves. Just looking at them makes me feel calm in my spirit and more grateful to God for the beauty He built into His creation. However, I have not always felt this way.
The yard we now enjoy has a grand total of one tree which has leaves on it and it is a very small tree. At one time we lived where we had nineteen trees in our yard and nine of them were sweet-gum trees. It would take at least a week for me to clean up all of the leaves and those thorny little balls from the sweet-gum trees. I was not feeling either calm or grateful during that time.
What was the difference? The leaves had all of the same variety in their shapes and colors back then as they do now. The temperatures were just as crisp then as they are now. So, what has changed?
I would like to say that I have just matured and that I now find beauty in, and appreciation for, all of God’s creation. But I don’t think you would believe me if I told you that. The answer is just too obvious. Judy Collins sang, “I’ve looked at life from both sides now”. I have looked at leaves from both sides now.
Hebrews 12:2 says…
“We must focus on Jesus, the source and goal of our faith. He saw the joy ahead of Him, so He endured death on the cross and ignored the disgrace it brought Him. Then He received the highest position in heaven, the one next to the throne of God. 3 So keep your mind on Jesus, who put up with many insults from sinners. Then you won’t get discouraged and give up.”
Jesus chose how He would ‘look at things’, even something as horrible as His own death on the cross. We all face dealing with difficult people and demanding circumstances, or demanding people and difficult circumstances, or both! If God the Father required Jesus to stay focused on Him in order not to “get discouraged and give up”, it should not seem unfair for us to have to “keep our mind on Jesus”.
Which are you focused on, the beauty of the leaves or the gum-balls of life?
Bro. Dennis