"And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise." Philippians 4:8
FOCUS
Forms our Opinion Causing Us to Surrender
This time of year, our eyes are once again drawn to looking at the trees with great anticipation. Rather than looking for the first sign of life springing forth, however, we find ourselves looking for the first sign of death. “What?” You might gasp, “not me!” But isn’t that what we do? Looking for the first sign that nature is letting go, surrendering to the process it was created for.
Fall; the very word speaks of something we dread doing. We hate to fall; it brings pain and embarrassment. But when the word is used in its noun form and speaks of the season and time of year when we feel the cool crisp breeze kiss our face, smell the fragrance of the crackling flames licking the dewdrops from the hotdogs and gooey morsels of sweetness from the dripping marshmallows, we hear the sound of laughter as children dive into newly raked piles of beautiful multi-colored leaves, or taste the warmth of a steaming hot cup of cocoa or a spoonful of melt in your mouth savory soup, it stirs in us quite the contrary emotion.
Whether you love this season or dread it, one thing is for certain, it is inevitable. But why, what is it about this season that draws us like an unseen force, pulling us to focus and watch for the first signs and evidence to appear that the beauty and brilliance of nature are beginning to fade into what seems dead and dreary? Just like we find ourselves in the spring looking with anticipation for the first sign of life to burst forth on branches of hope, we watch intently, observing as the leaves fade into brilliant shades of yellow, red, orange, and purple and then supervise as they are released to ride upon the currents of air being gently guided by gravity; pulling them toward their newly found home. Rather than the excitement of new life, it creates in us an almost peaceful feeling of rest and security, knowing that what has begun is now finished and has served its purpose.
Psalm 19:1 states, “The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship.”
Romans 1:20 tells us, “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities- his eternal power and divine nature- have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.”
Rather than watch with a perspective of sorrow as we observe the inevitable process of death in nature, we choose to focus on beauty. We watch the trees give up what was birthed in the spring, surrendering to the cycle of nature. Rather than just giving up something, they find themselves giving to something that is bigger and beyond themselves. They give up their momentary gratification of glory for the sake of giving to a momentum of glory that speaks of something greater than what we can see. Without the release, there would be no hope for growth. Without the surrender, there would be no possibility of purpose. You see the trees tell us over and over again, season after season, that for growth to take place, there must be a release. Rather than hold onto what we think brings life, we must surrender our mindset of temporary gratification and allow it to die. We must rest in the promise that what God will fill us with when we surrender, will bring new life and eternal satisfaction. Creation tells the story of our Creator and His purpose. For new life to take place we must let go and surrender to the hope that there is something greater, even though we can’t see it yet.
What have you been holding onto, believing that it will bring you the peace and rest you long for, but finding that it has only produced pressure and confusion? Let it go, and rest in the process of surrender. Just simply trust that like the sap fills the tree in the right season to produce life, as you are rooted and grounded in the Word of God, His Spirit will fill you with everything you need for life and godliness. He is greater than what we struggle to hold onto. Let it go and let God show you His glorious graceful purpose as you fully surrender to His plan. We are called to die to ourselves, to crucify our flesh nature, so that we might be made alive in Him, and, like the trees, bring glory to the momentum of His kingdom and His plan. Rather than owners of what is produced in our life we are merely stewards. Rather than focus on what is lost, we choose to focus on what we are able to give, it all belongs to Him.