Autumn Delights the Soul

Summer turns to fall, the colorful autumn leaves clothed in awesome hues of brown and red, with brilliant intensities of gold delight the wide eyed little girl. She perceives this most spectacular of changes as nothing less than magic or an amazing miracle of sorts. The welcome freshness of the breeze across her face teases her hair, and the dazzling brightness of the sun makes her squint to see.

She laughs as she jumps into the soft pile of fallen leaves and blends with them now, with all the elements of nature. It begins to rain and turn to icy mix, each tiny little diamond chip of purifying moisture that God rains down upon her today joins with the others to was away the filth put there by some cruel act forced upon her against her will.

The brilliant light show that electrifies the sky and the thunder in her ears, the utter magnificence and glory of the one who will never leave her or do her harm, fills her up. It quickens her to the extreme depth of her waning spirit. The anger and the pain dissipate in this sacred place. She finds herself alone with the Creator and Master of it all. At last she finds the only quiet, peaceful place she has ever known and meets a God she does not yet know or understand.

She abides there for a time in the shelter of His love. The child has known nothing but the painful agonies of this world. She has lived a life of unspeakable horrors and the futility of hope. She ponders in her heart the protection of His awesome wings. For a time she questions the strangeness of this respite and if it could be that single thing her desperate soul has craved since it made its listless entry into life. Fear grips her for it is awkwardly uncomfortable, yet her soul is comforted in this new place.

She is consumed by an overwhelming sense of wholeness and well being she has never known. Yet sheltered beneath the branches of her favorite tree, the majestic weeping willow, this child asks how it can be that scarcely a moment or two ago such stinging pain from these same branches could be brought to bear upon her when wrapped around her tiny legs with force great enough to drive her crying to this place. Is this not now her oasis from the terrifying tragedy and trauma of a life so recently begin?

She meets God here and he gently tends her wounds, protecting her from those who do her harm. They are absent from her mind as she plays and frolics in the sun with carefree abandon forbidden to her in her otherwise troubled life. Now courage grows within her heart to face the terrifying pain visited upon her by those she tries so hard to understand and love.

The youngster does not yet realize that when she is old the pain will still be with her, but the shelter of that wicked tree she loved so much in childhood will become to her the saving grace of a loving, patient God. It will become a check and balance she will need to make it through the horrific devastation that may mark her days and dog her in her nights even when she reaches her graceful, golden years.

Perhaps when her deaf ears are tired, and her soul too old to take another step, she finally will be still, and her spirit will be quieted within her. Only then can she understand the many delightful Spirit gifts bestowed upon her by the Creator of the universe. He alone was able to breathe life into her flesh. Then He sent His begotten Son to rescue her in the exact hour of her need.

He came in human flesh while still possessing the holiness of God. He came willing to suffer the excruciating pain and indignities of the cross, hanging there for her in humility and disgrace without a word. His sole intent was to someday bring her home to Him. He never thought to save Himself, although He could. The rain that she so loved as a small child came down on her that day, as in grief He wept for her and drew her back clinging to her side.