One Week

Last week I showed two photographs side by side, taken two days apart of the same trees.  This morning I snapped another photograph, marking the difference of a week, between the second and third images. A friend made a comment the other day referring to the beauty of autumn was really a result of the leaves dying.  At the moment I heard that, a heaviness washed over me.  I knew what he had stated was true, but I didn't need to hear it while I was enjoying the splendor of autumn!   It was then that the foundation was laid for how we sometimes prefer the facts to remain distant from the beauty we are enjoying.  Although this is the natural cycle for trees, Adonai gave me a parable addressing compromise, based upon these three photos.

If I went out one morning to do chores and saw these trees just cut down or blazing, I of course would see no beauty in that, but we know from Genesis, Eve saw beauty in that tree at harvest time.  Hebrews tells us that sin is pleasurable for a season.  John, in his first letter referred to the lust of the eyes, which means temptation can appear to be quite beautiful.  Unlike Eve's situation, there was no fruit in this parable, just the the distinct fact that the changing colors was caused by the absence of life flowing from the root through the branches.   That's exactly what happens to us spiritually when we find temptation to be alluring.

 Compromise cuts the flow from the root to branches.  It doesn't happen all at once, and at first the compromise seems "doable!"  It may even seem like a good idea.  The compromise is just a small one, just making life a bit more "colorful," and the change is barely noticeable.  Sometimes we can even convince ourselves we are more useful in our compromise.   More outstanding in our message if we mingle the truth with the atmosphere.  We tell ourselves the contrast will be obvious and others will find what we have to be desirable . . .

 This photo was taken on October 31st, as the discussions and debates raged as to the participation of the holiday.  The plans and admonition regarding the potential outreach, the cuteness of some costumes, and the attempts to offer kids an alternative went on and on.  These colors are so breathtakingly beautiful, it's hard to remember that it is the lack of life flowing from the roots to the leaves that causes this.

Now, just one week later, the vibrance has faded.  The splendor the color is gone.  The evidence of dormancy is becoming obvious, and so quickly.  Not only have the leaves faded, they've become hard and brittle; many have fallen away.   

The season of autumn beauty is already fading.  For the trees, it's merely a natural change for a season.   As for we humans, we often do not see the subtle changes brought about in our life, by compromise, until the color has completely faded and we find ourselves in dormant desolation.