"You shall ask
What good are
dead leaves
And I will tell
you
They nourish the
sore earth.
You shall ask
What reason is
there for winter
And I will tell
you
To bring about
new leaves.
You shall ask
Why are the
leaves so green
And I will tell
you
Because they are
rich with life
You shall ask
Why must summer
end
And I will tell
you
So that the
leaves can die."
~Nancy Wood
Yesterday was a rain day. Minnesotans talk often, some fondly, of snow days. But yesterday was a rain day. We needed the moisture. Many people have taken advantage of these mild fall days to plant trees and shrubs and the rain was welcome. The more than an inch of rain will provide much needed nourishment as these plants prepare for the winter months.
Later in the day the rain tapered off and as I drove home from work I was stunned by the brilliance of the fall colors. The day before the red, orange, and yellow leaves were noticeable but yesterday their colors simply shone with autumn beauty. Along the Mississippi river the trees danced with color weaving among the still lush green of summer leaves. Was it the rain that caused them to shine so brightly? Or was the brilliance caused by the contrast of green against the other fall colors? I wondered.
I thought about how rain is often used as a metaphor in spiritual writing, mirroring the cleansing that often comes before enlightenment, before salvation, before wholeness. The act of being washed, as the trees were yesterday, brings about newness, a fresh start, a beauty not seen before, a new way of being.
As I crossed a bridge on Highway 13 that reveals a ravine complete with a waterfall, I looked into the rolling folds of the hills that form this landmark. The sight took my breath away. The maples, birches, oak and pine trees formed a quilt of brilliant color, a testament to the cycles of birth, life, and death and the beauty of each season. The rain had washed them clean so they could show their true colors to the world for one of the last times this year. I was blessed to witness this miracle and thankful for the eyes to see such beauty in the world.