November 7, 2014

Fall. Its a season that I can't decide about.

On the one hand, its an excuse to wear sweatshirts and sweatpants... only my favorite, most comfortable clothes EVER. Its easy to get comfy when its cold out! Just to stay inside and sit by the fire... sooo good! But then again, its too noisy. With school, fall activities, holidays, and the TREES its a bit too much for me. The attack on my eyes is too much. I can't wait for winter when the only colors are brown, white, and grey. Thats when I can stare outside and feel introspective.

As a Christian, it is WAY too easy to become comfortable and just huddle up in cold weather. When pain and hurt afflicts the rest of the world, we just sip out hot mugs of cider and tell stories of glories past around a cozy little fire. We think we are impacting the world, talking amongst ourselves of doctrine and change and statistics, but until we leave the cabin and give our coat away to someone in need, we have failed in our calling. We need to be outreaching, even when it inconveniences us. When we experience winter, we want to stay holed up... but we MUST brave the cold and serve others. Because its when others see Jesus's strength in us that they glorify Him. Anyone can serve the homeless or poor or weak or depressed or hurting when its nice and warm and sunny for us; but as soon as the seasons change, we no longer want to help the least of these.

And we cannot ignore those around us. Perhaps we can end the falling of leaves from dying branches. The trees drop leaves every year, and hardly anyone takes a long time to study and appreciate their beauty. As humans, we always long for change. By winter I'll wish for green leaves, and by summer I'll wish for the colors of fall. But these trees are like humans. Many, when they feel threatened, show off many warning signs and cry our for help the best they know how, and yet we ignore them. So they die from the outside in.

When we neglect others, they slip into winter mode. Even though we have failed, our GOD will not. As soon as these trees catch sight of the Son, they come to life from the inside out. And buds will grow and leaves will grow and others will see the splendor of a new life. And this life may last a season or two, but like always, life takes over and we will ALL 'fall' at one time or another. And it is SO IMPORTANT to keep encouragement, to keep optimism, to keep JESUS flowing between us so that we can be like the evergreens: a sign of life amidst the darkest of days.