Wisdom from Leaf Watching

I stood at the bottom of the giant oak (or was it an elm?!) down in the canyon.

I tipped by head way back to stare at yellowed leaves up high. Stared, so I could track movement in my periphery.

Soon I saw it wave for my attention. Drifting down through the windstill air. Down. Down.

Another leaf. Dead. Disconnected. Falling from its glorious height.

Soon adding another “tile” to the carpet on the ground.

The Scriptures say in Luke 14:11 -- Whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased
from Luke 14:11

I returned to gazing, staring, upward, waiting to track the next descending leaf.

Some spun. Others rocked or twirled or floated.

But always down.

A few got stuck in the trees, “rescued” by their fellows. Most made it to the ground. And some even went below ground level, into the pond.

But they all fell from their high birth place.

Detached from their birthrights, they fell.

As I gazed…and as I walked away…and as I thought back later…I gleaned wisdom.

When the leaf fell, it didn’t rise above its previous exalted position.

Even when it didn’t get all the way to the ground, it was demoted.

Sometimes it struck another leaf in its descent, destabilized it, and sent it down as well.

From way up high to way down low.

From living to dead.

From vibrant to mulch.

Can we expect anything better?

For our humanity?

And our pride?

Yes!

If our fall kills our pride, leading us to humility.

If our remorse results in repentance, leading us to Christ.

If we allow Him Who makes dead bones live make us live again.

Can these bones live?

“Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live” (Ezekiel 37:5).

(Interested in the blog post associated with the above graphic? Humility and Inclusion)

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