The colors of the season are wonderful. Everywhere you look there are murals of reds and yellows and so many glorious colors. Yesterday I drove the rural back roads, purposely avoiding busy highways, twisting and turning over the rolling landscape. On some of the narrow roads the trees have grown tall and they reach out to each other, making a tunnel of technicolor wonder. It was a blessing and a gift that I received gratefully.
But this one decided to pose in a particularly powerful way. While all those radiantly colored trees are stunning, this one, stripped bare by wind and time, suggests strength and endurance. The framework, the undergirding structure, is sound. It will leaf again in time, but for now it is a sacred reminder. Build a life with foundational principles of integrity, honesty, justice and compassion and that life will bloom and bless. The unseen structure holds it all together. That’s something Jesus taught over and over again. Kingdom principles sustain life through all kinds of challenges and changes.
A leafless tree among the beautifully robed ones teaches a vital lesson to all who have eyes to see. A leafless tree is beautiful, too.
Shining Spirit 
Just beautiful but I see the clouds as leafs and they are utterly beautiful as well. Thank you Lord.