What a leaf gives
October 29, 2009
Photo Courtesy of Annie K
Fall approaches only when the leaves on our backyard maple begin to yawn inward and drop to the ground. One would perhaps think that owning the focal point of one season’s exit and another’s entrance would be a big deal, but it’s something our realtor failed to mention. Not that I’m complaining. My maple wouldn’t want the attention.
As I write this I am looking out an upstairs window. Beautiful day, eighty degrees and sunshiny. But I’m not fooled. My backyard is slowly pulling a blanket of yellowed leaves over itself to settle in for the colder months. My maple is becoming bare. That’s how I know that both the end and the beginning are near. My beautiful day is just a little more than a mirage. It’s both here and not really.
Soon the leaves on the other trees in the neighborhood will take their cue and follow suit. Green will turn to yellow and then to red and orange in a sudden and silent conflagration. It will be a shout of goodbye mixed with a little leaving of something behind.
Sometime in the next month or so a migration to our valley will ensue. People for hundreds of miles will make the journey to the mountains in my front yard just to get a look at our leaves.
This seems curious on the surface. After all, I’m sure those good folks have trees wherever they live, too. Travelling hundreds of miles to look at other trees can seem to be a bit ridiculous. But I understand. Because I am, above all else, a leaf guy. I would even go so far as to say that a single leaf embodies everything to which a human should aspire.
That statement might on the surface seem a little demeaning. If we’re going to compare humanity to the positive attributes of a natural object, it should be something a little more awe-inspiring. Like an eagle, maybe. Or the mountains. Or maybe some bright, shining star.
But I don’t think so. No, I don’t think you can get much better than a leaf.
The leaf is a wonderful creation. It’s value to trees and plants is vital because of photosynthesis, the natural process of turning carbon dioxide into organic compounds—something from nothing. The result of this miraculous poof!ing is oxygen. Leaves convert almost a hundred billion tons of carbon dioxide into fresh air every year, keeping us all alive. Next time you take a deep breath, thank the nearest tree.
And that’s not all.
For thousands of years humans have used leaves for everything from medicine to food. They provide shelter from the elements and shade from the sun. Adam and Eve used them to cover their nakedness. Christ used them in parables. And let’s not forget the entertainment factor. Leaves are fun to play with. Just ask my kids.
The life of a leaf is a life of service. It gives, whether it be life or shelter, and asks for nothing in return. And when the end comes, the leaf doesn’t fret. It doesn’t fight the inevitable, doesn’t shrink or shrivel or succumb.
No, it uses its last days to brighten and reveal the beauty that was always hidden within it, thereby inspiring us to notice the beauty that is apparent around us. Even in death, the leaf gives.
So you can take your oceans and mountains. You can have your eagles and stars. I’ll stay a leaf guy. I don’t think I could ask anything more of myself.
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33 Responses to “What a leaf gives”
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I’m a writer whose first novel, Snow Day, will be published by FaithWords in 2010.
But don’t let that fool you. I’m just as confused as anyone.
And that is fine with me, because the great thing about wandering around in the fog is that you never know what you might run into.
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SO much better analogy than The Giving Tree. Really beautiful. And very nice photo, Annie!
I remember reading (I don’t remember where) that scientists still don’t know why leaves change their color. I am kind of glad that God still keeps some things a secret.
Very beautiful, Billy.
I tend to forget how amazing each leaf (amongst the hundreds on my grass) can be. Thanks for the reminder.
I never thought of leaves in this fashion before but I think I just became a leaf-girl.
Beautiful and we were just talking about this last night at dinner. Lexi brought in two gorgeous red leaves from outside. Then Scott began to show the children the veins and it went from there – God’s creation to heal us, protect us and give us LIFE! Surpised?
He is such an awesome God! His gifts for us never stop!
Blessings and love,
Jill
This is my FAVORITE season- and the leaves are the stars during Autumn!
Beautiful post.
Love Annie’s photo!
I detect a theme of service that maybe I should be listening to – last night our pastor preached on Philippians 2:5-9 and the one thing I carried away is that everything Christ did was in service to others, then this morning you uncover this great object lesson. Great food for thought as I rake leaves this weekend – I better get poofling.
Beautiful. I loved this line in particular, “the leaves on our backyard maple begin to yawn inward and drop to the ground.”
~ Wendy
Billy,
I will never look at a leaf the same, again. I have always loved fall and this article gives me more reason to appreciate all GOD is showing me.
Andrea
Billy, well, you saw my leaf shots the other day from Camp Wilderness in Minnesota, so you probably knew already that I’m a leaf girl.
It’s so fun to discover I’m not the only one who obsesses and delights in such things. That is a true artist: taking the “ordinary” and bringing to light its extraordinary nature. Blessings…
Yeah, leaves, they are pretty awesome. I was able to take some Fall leaves to Arizona recently for a friend who used to live in New Jersey and misses those Fall leaves somethin’ fierce. I hadn’t anticipated how much all the kids would like them there. Not having scene leaves that turn yellow, orange, purple, red, black, and some leaves several of those colors at once, it was wonderous to them. I hope to do that every year, would have had I known what a treasure it would be to them. Yeah, Autumn leaves are just that cool.
As much as I resist summer ending, there is something so comforting when surrounded by the beauty of fall. The air is a little crisper, the woods are a little more still and the leaves are incredibly beautiful. I’m blessed to be able to walk out my door and find myself right in the midst of it….
I just absolutely love this. I’ve always loved leaves, feeling a bit of an energy burst just walking through the woods and touching them. The layers of analogous goodness here will stick with me, for sure.
Billy, thanks for the reminder of God’s work and your articulate this translation so wonderfully.
Thanks again- Joshua
ps- my wife is Michelle from pridelandsmommy.blogspot.com
“Even in death, the leaf gives.”
i love this. I love the whole post and the serenity in your perspective, but I love this line the most. Because death does give back. It is not always an end. It is an important thing to remember.
First time here. Glad I came.
What a beautiful post. Beautiful words weaved to create beautiful images in my mind followed by beautiful thoughts, lessons and concepts. A masterpiece!
If there’s one thing saving my heart from homesickness for PHX, it’s the colorful leaves dressing the trees in my new Knoxville home. This post just makes me more thankful.
So, thank YOU. And as always, write on!
This was great! Love it
……I always knew there was a little “treehugger” in ya, Billy!
Very, very nice, Billy. Death to self brings out the beauty hidden within. That’s a concept that needs to be preached more often.
I could have guessed you were a leaf person! The depth with which you write is proof of that. Leaf people are a special breed
We call it leaf peeping here, and we’ve been known to drive around even our own neighborhoods just to see the different colors and take it all in!
I’ve always felt this way about leaves. Fall is by far my very favorite time of year. Lovely post.
“My backyard is slowly pulling a blanket of yellowed leaves over itself to settle in for the colder months. ”
My favorite line, Billy. I felt the beauty of fall rustle under my feet.
I can stare at a leaf for the longest time. It’s veins, strong as ever, even as it dies, it’s supple becomes crackle. What a special thought that it’s service is in life-giving. That preaches … and our sweet Lord agrees.
I’ll never look at a leaf the same way. Now that I live in the desert, I don’t get to see the leaves change like I did when I lived in the midwest. I remember the beauty, that’s for sure. I could make a trip of to the northern desert and see some, I suppose. Neat post. Thanks, Billy.
This truly is a circle of life in the way of the leaf. Even as it lies on the ground it decomposes and provides life giving nutrients to the soil it sits upon still serving its purpose to the very end.
Great story again Billy!
Love and Hugs ~ Kat
Thanks for reminding us not to take for granted the seemingly little things. I loved that about thanking the nearest tree, made me laugh…in a serious way!
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Fall in Virginia is one of the most beautiful times of year. Take a drive along the Skyline, through the Blue Ridge, in the Appalachians . . . God does mighty work there in autumn. And He saves some of it for us in the suburbs, too.
Thank you for a lovely post.
I love the autumn season. God’s beauty is inspiring, peaceful, and just amazing…may we all notice the beauty that surrounds us everyday.
love your view of the leaves
They’ve been important from the beginning, haven’t they?
So, so, so nice, Billy. I love the imagery of a leafy-blanket on your yard. Makes me want to settle in and wrap myself up in this season of color and change. We’ve been sort of robbed of a typical fall here in northwest Iowa. The leaves fell sort of at once with an early snowfall. And now the rain, rain, rain is stalling harvest.
It was such a joy to see the season through your eyes.
Thank you.
Really lovely.
My children would agree with yours–leaves are for play! We’ve had such warm, springtime days the past month that our trees have stopped shedding leaves…to the frustration of my 3-year-old who doesn’t understand why we can’t have a leaf pile. Beautiful words–thanks for showing me another person who loves Fall.
“No, it uses its last days to brighten and reveal the beauty that was always hidden within it, thereby inspiring us to notice the beauty that is apparent around us. Even in death, the leaf gives.” <–Poetry in prose.
Having grown up in Southern California, I never saw the beauty of fall in person until I was halfway through my 20's. I still remember vividly the first time I saw the first peek of color as I was driving through a wooded area in 1994 on my way to substitute teach. And now you've given me another way to see it. Love this.