This is life

And [Jesus] said to them, ‘Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.’ (Luke 12:15)

In the silence of my basement room, still I see the red-golden leaves, tinged brown on every edge, of the little tree on the southwest corner of the lot—and am moved.

Life is seeing, really seeing this tree in this one moment of eternity—its beauty unlike any tree that ever was or ever will be—on this October day when wind and rain threaten to rip away leaves it is not quite ready to surrender.

Hold on, little tree. Let me savor you just a little longer. True, you will be beautiful when the snows come to adorn your branches. But, for now, you witness to the Love who speaks to me in odd moments when, for reasons unknown, my soul opens to what is right in front of me.

And I know, yes, I know it is you. It is you whose smile shines from my little tree, you who are Creator of my beating heart that in more recent years has learned to love beyond what I had thought possible.

And today, I love you more … for this little tree, branches dancing in gusty-gray winds as it hangs onto the beauty it is, little knowing another beauty will surely come.

But I do. I know. The Love you most assuredly are, Holy One, will seek and delight my heart far beyond this October day, touching me on colder mornings until, ah, the wonder of another Spring I hope to see.

This, knowing you this way, dearest Friend, is life.

My joyful tears praise you in every season, knowing that little tree is my life.

Pr. David L. Miller