Yesterday, while I was walking my dog Brisbane, I noticed in a friend’s yard a tree with a spectacular array of fall colors in its leaves, a tree which i quickly noticed was changing right before my eyes. As I watched the tree wave peacefully in the wind, I observed many of its leaves gently float down to the ground. Actually, the amount of leaves captivated me. I stood there in amazement soaking in this glorious picture that was indelibly being painted into my mind. It was like the tree was giving me a gift. I was a witness of its transformation from one season to the next.

This tree transformed from a brilliant color filled beauty, into a dormant sticklike tree, where possibly one might say its only beauty from then on will depend on snow. In just a few minutes the tree was completely naked. It was finished. Death occurred once again for this tree. It was again time to rest; time to get ready for its spring resurrection when new life would come. In my mind I said goodbye to the tree, thankful for the gift it gave me. I then turned my attention back to Brisbane, and we continued on our walk together.

Honestly, I don’t know the scientific details of what happens to a tree when it looses its leaves, but I do know I like to see it when it happens. I truly believe the seasons-cycle is a revealing gift from God. To see what looks like death and resurrection in nature year after year is a testimony of his wisdom, his power, and his ability. It also reminds me of what God continues to do in my life as he deals with my sin and its consequences.

When you think about it, it seems that God kind of likes the death and resurrection process. Not the morbid aspects of it per se, but what can be accomplished through this process. It was this process through which God has blessed all of mankind. Surely God chose all along that his Son would go through the death and resurrection process, but only so something beautiful and cleansing could be done to wash away sin and restore our broken world. Furthermore, now he expects us to go whole-heartedly through the death and resurrection process through baptism (Romans 6) to join Jesus in this process. That expectation will last as long as there are people on earth. From the beginning until now, and presumably into the future, the process of death and resurrection has played a prominent role in all of life, and always at God’s choosing.

God has blessed us with the opportunity to start all over again, to be re-made by him. One might say this is a chance to “turn over a new leaf”. Now that is quite a gift.

This morning, on our morning walk, we went by the tree again. I looked at the sleeping tree with special affection, still thankful for the gift it gave me yesterday. I said under my breath, “Hello friend.”

(I think the tree…waved back to me.)