The red sea of maples divides and we drive through on a part of dry gravel road, waves of color lapping in wind.
A gust of autumn sprays brilliance. A splash of light carpets the way.
We’re led through.
“They say the colors are exceptionally vibrant this year.” He knows that’s what’s holding me rapt, silent.
From the passenger seat, I look deep into Martin’s woods, there along the old cedar fence. The woods exude light from within. The whole of earth and all of this moment agrees. I only murmur my wonder, assent.
“Apparently it’s because of the warm days and the cold nights. Really brings out the colors.”
Another surge of fall, and a mist of amber, gold, bronze falls, and I think about taut time and frayed nerves and aching head… and kneeled prayers, and sung hymns, and Words known by heart. The road dips, and the woods wave and I think of the day’s warmed moments… and it’s frigid.
Leaves fall.
I think about extremes.
A singular scarlet maple leaf earth-descends and my mind catches it with thoughts of how extremes unveil our true colors.
That ruby leaf sailing down has saturated all of summer sun, so now, when cold creeps in under the cover of dark October nights, it glows. The colder the harvest nights, the more summer sun radiates in autumn leaves.
The extremes illuminate the leaves.
Like the jarring plunges of my own day reveal how long I’ve basked –or not– in the Son.
Do cold moments more deeply, richly, illuminate the Son in me?
The woods crest, rise in a crescendo of color, and I wonder how extremes expose my true colors…..
The red sea parts and we’re led home.
Lord, may life extremes let You exude from within, true colors vibrantly glowing.
Related: Days of Autumn at Big Pictures
Photos: the Red Sea parting and us taking our gravel road home through fields and woods of color
