Nancy Kuhuski

I had driven by that very spot hundreds of times and had never noticed it before. There was an absolutely stunning tree, almost glowing with the intensity of its color, back-dropped by blue sky. It was breathtaking and I was in awe. It wasn’t just the beauty of the tree that stopped me in my tracks though. I was mesmerized, by watching the leaves dropping from it and drifting effortlessly to the ground. It was graceful, serene and so very beautiful. I had a sudden urge to go and jump in those lovely crunchy leaves littering the ground around the tree, but I restrained myself, as I don’t think the property owner would have appreciated my trespassing! I continued to drive through town drinking in the special beauty of fall leaves which seemed to surround me. A quote I had run across recently drifted back through my mind and settled there. “Autumn shows us how beautiful it is to let things go.” (Anonymous) Throughout the day, the images of what I had seen and this quote stayed with me, and my thoughts floated back to it over and over.

The dictionary defines letting go as relinquishing one’s grip on someone or something. What these gorgeous fall trees seem to do so effortlessly, more often than not, I struggle deeply with. I find myself with an iron grip on things, fighting to not allow them to get away from me… even when my arms are so full I risk dropping everything, or holding on is actually harming me.

“Eventually, autumn leaves must fall. By the end of the summer, they may be damaged by insects, disease or general wear and tear and ready for renewal.” (National Wildlife Federation) We too have seasons in our lives. As we near the end of a season, we may have things that are damaged that need to go, or we have general wear and tear and are ready for renewal. Sometimes we can see so clearly the need to let go, yet we hold on afraid of what the new season may bring, or attempting to hold onto a piece of what was. We don’t quite understand or trust that with time, spring always comes and new growth happens that is healthier and more purposeful than the damaged, warn, and dying thing, we are holding so tightly to.

What are you holding onto today that needs to be let go? Will you follow the lead of the autumn trees and embrace the beauty of letting things go?

^“ For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.“ Jeremiah 29:11