When the calendar flipped to October, I began to look for glimpses of the beautiful showy fall display of changing leaf color. Even though the timing can vary greatly where we live, most often the first hints of color begin by the end of the first week of the month. I could only see green by the middle of the month this year. Temperatures were unusually warm, but pumpkin spice lattes were in abundance and reminded me that the leaf colors I so enjoy should have started.
Days slipped by and as the end of the month approached, a very few hints of color began to appear. As I turned the calendar to November most of the trees in my yard are still more green than any other color. I cannot recall a year when the leaf color has been so late and now that it has abruptly become chilly, I wonder if the leaves will be blown from the trees while they are still green.
But after reading a scientific article on our changing leaf color, I realized that the color had been there all along. I just couldn’t see it.
The article revealed the vivid yellow and orange colors of fall leaves have actually been there throughout the spring and summer, but I/we simply haven’t been able to see them. The deep green color of the chlorophyll that helps plants absorb life-giving sunlight was hiding the colors. Somehow I had never learned that along the way.
The vivid colors I was longing to see could only be seen when the trees began to break down the green pigments stored in the leaves and shuttled them into the roots for reuse in the spring. Only when the leaves began to lose life-giving chlorophyll would I be able to see the stunning colors. Only then would the color be visible to the human eye.
As I finished reading the article, I could not help but smile at discovering how much this says about our Creator. He knows the colors are always there and guess what? I have no doubt He can see the colors as easily as He can see the lush green leaves.
We are the ones with limited eyesight.
So often in this life we fail to see or are unable to see the unseen in the spiritual world. We are to live by faith and trust in what we cannot see. But I wonder how many other evidences of His handiwork in creation are unseen by our eyes and unknown to us.
How many things is He waiting for us to discover and delight in?
How often must He want us to expand our view of His amazing designs?
How many spiritual applications can we discover with this new information? What else would He delight to have us discover?
Are we taking in the nutrients we need for life-giving sustaining growth? Are they being absorbed deep within us to sustain us during hard times when the winds of adversity blow relentlessly?
May the Lord grant us glimpses of the unseen world as we set aside the distractions of the clutter of this life.
When our leaves loose their chlorophyl, they just give a very limited time to see their colours! You better be looking or else you miss the opportunity! This kind of teaches us the importance of presence! So true that so much in our natural world, and how it works is a reflection of the Creator. P.S. Now we’re covered with snow. 🙂
Great observation about the importance of presence, Lynn!! Wow! Snow!! How many inches already?
Pam, I never knew the colors were always there. There are so many wonders in God’s creation. I’m reminded of the Patriarchs. In Hebrews 11 some of them are commended for their faith in dying. Like the leaves, when the “green” stage of their lives passed the beauty of their faith shown brilliantly.
So true, Debbie! It excites me to imagine how many there are yet to discover!! That’s a great corollary about Hebrews 11. 💕
And the beautiful colors only come when the tree begins to lose the life-giving chlorophyll. Just as the beauty of Christ only comes when I lose my dependence on self and cling to Him.
Love how you stated this, Debbie!!💕
Such interesting facts about leaves. I learned a lot. Thanks so much for sharing.
I missed the beautiful displays of color this year; we saw a bit of the leaves changing but it was warmer and they were staying green… then the storm blew threw and most of the leaves are now on the ground. But I know I’ll get to see them all next year (we learned about the color always being in the leaves a few years ago when my boys studied that in science; so neat to know!).
I guess many of us have had a similar autumn! So good to know your boys learned that in science. Maybe they didn’t know that when I was in science class😂
Interesting. I knew chlorophyll created the color, but didn’t know the other colors were there underneath. Fun to know. And, good spiritual application too. Thanks for sharing. — The trees in our area are still greener than usual, too. 🙂
I thought so because that was one thing I didn’t learn in biology or science. Thanks for your kind comments! Have a great weekend ahead!🍁
What a thoughtful article. God has created a wondrous planet. We just need to take our time to learn about it and to see it. http://www.inlinkz.com/displayurl.php?id=34430917
Thank you for sharing with the Blogging Grandmothers. I have shared on social medial #BloggingGrandmothersLink Party.
Thanks so much! I look forward to discovering more of the wondrous things He has as a part of creation that we likely miss! Have a blessed day!❤️
Thank you for these encouraging words on a grey blustery day! Your words led me to think about the ways that the fresh green growth is so lovely, but it has to be slowed down in order to see the hidden beauties that get dwarfed by all that showy outward growth. Similar to Michele’s thoughts about the falling away of the aging process, there are things that can’t be seen until our lives have been forced to slow down. Wonderful thoughts here at your site today! Blessings to you!
Discerning thoughts, Bettie! Thanks so very much! Hugs and blessings on your day!💕
I love the thought that God sees the colors even when we can only see green! I think that might be true as he looks at each of us as well. We see only what’s on the outside with our natural eyes, but Hallelujah that He sees so much more than that!
I so agree, Karen! Truly, truly!! Amen!!!
Inspiration and a wee science lesson on the side.
Another good autumn academic boost for me this season has been finding the word “abcission.” Someone (can’t recall who??) shared that this is the scientific word for the natural falling of the leaves, and it gives me a word also for the falling away of things that happens as a natural course of aging and maturing.
Blessings to you, Pam. I’m always inspired when I visit here!