The colors of death...

So, I haven't written on here in a LONG time, and I realize this, but the colors are changing! I know, it's a weird saying we have when the leaves on the trees herald fall and the coming of winter, but the colors are indeed changing! The green water-oak outside my apartment is now dropping very brown leaves! One of the maples across the parking lot for the last two weeks has been turning yellow from the top down, kinda like someone dusting yellow dye on the top of the tree and letting it trickle downwards. And then this afternoon on my way to my car after work, I noticed that the tiny little forgotten trees in the school parking lot are turning gorgeous colors like bright red and almost purple.

As many people who read this blog (when I actually update it) know, I went to college in the mountains, so I got the full brunt of God's creative design when it came to gorgeous leaves and the dying colors of the trees. And yes, while I know it's not actually the trees that die, I was thinking about it, these colors are actually products of death.

If I were to ask you to play a name game with me, it would go something like this: "Okay, when I say an object, an action, or something, I want you to just say the first color that comes to the top of your mind. Okay? Okay. Alright here we go! Lion."

"Tan."

"Sky."

"Blue."

"Apple."

"Chrome."

"..... uh. Well, um... Downtown."

"Gray-black."

"Eyes."

"Brown."

"Trees."

"Green."

"Fall."

"Red."

"Death."

"Black."

Do you see how this goes? Black is generally reserved for death. But in God's case, apparently, he reserves red, yellow, brown, purple, and various shades of orange for the death of leaves.

This occurred to me as I was driving home the other day, watching the changes of the leaves. I don't normally have macabre thoughts, but as this occurred to me, I was struck with a thought I'd had last year.

I sincerely hope that when it comes time for me to die, just as the time comes for every leaf in this world, when it comes time for God to take me from this world because I've done my part in his magnificent plan to save the world and bring glory to himself, that I can glorify him one last time in death by showing colors as brilliant as a leaf in death.

I suppose the human version of to show ones colors is something like acting honorably, or self-sacrificing, or showing the "good" side of being a human being, but whatever it all is, whether it's because I live to a ripe old age surrounded by children and grandchildren, knowing that they are my colors because they love the Lord because I've prayed for them, or if it's because I'll die protecting someone I love, showing those colors of self-sacrifice and so on, I hope that in any way that I die, I can bring glory to my God and Savior in some way.

If the leaves on the trees can do it, why can't I? I'll go out in a blaze of giving glory to God if I have anything to say about it.

~H