Saturday, October 03, 2009

Autumn Wisdom

The Prophet Isaiah (55:12) talks about mountains and hills breaking forth into singing and trees clapping their hands.

It seems to me the mountains are singing clearer and louder in Autumn. It is in the Fall of the year that the mountains call us to see and hear and experience the beauty of the mountains!

John Muer made some interesting comments about trees, not just about trees singing but also preaching! He wrote: "Few are altogether deaf to the preaching of pine trees. Their sermons on the mountains go to our hearts; and if people in general could be got into the woods, even for once, to hear the trees speak for themselves, all difficulties in the way of forest preservation would vanish." -John Muir, naturalist, explorer, and writer (1838-1914)

A few years ago, Ken Cook, a meteorologist, spoke to our Retired Pastors group at Simpsonwod United Methodist Center about his flower business in North Georgia. He told us that his Dahlias bloom in the Spring and in the Fall. He said that when they bloom again in the Fall, the colors are more vibrant and sparkling than when they bloomed in the Spring.

More vibrant, more sparkling in the Fall? (The photo above is a small vase of the Amazingly beautiful Autumn blooming Dahlias from the garden of Terrell and Sheila Shaw (October 17, 2009) On the right is a dahlia blooming in a pot near my driveway now in October 2010. (photo by Joan)

What about the Autumn of life? I wrote a poem! The last verse of my poem is for all of us who are “old” and for the rest of us who are planning on getting a “whole lot older.”

Autumn Wisdom

I walked into October
And lifted up my ears to hear
The very mountains singing
Choir-robed for praise . . .
in Autumn . . . clear . . .

Sunset yellows, burning bush reds.
My heart . . . in awe . . . took off its shoes
And stood on Holy ground to view
Creation's God in Autumn hue . . .

For every tree was clapping
The Doxology . . . lifted high
I think some unseen maestro
Was pointing to the sky!

I heard the mountains singing
With concert voices raised
When every hill pulled out the stops,
Adorned in breathless Autumn praise!.

I shall long remember this:
The mountains grandest notes are sung
Not in springtime's newness .
But in Autumn’s aging tongue.

by R.B.S. copyright 1989

11 comments:

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...

Dear Mama,

You never cease to amaze!

This poem sounds a clear tone -- to the ear and the heart.

I love you.

Terry

Anonymous said...

Beautiful, Aunt Ruth. I always love to read your poems. I look forward to more in your blog.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful, beautiful!

So meaningful and moving!

I'm with Terry, you never cease to amaze with your wisdom.

And the beauty of your words never ceases to stir my heart!

Carol said...

I love the poem, Mother. And there was only post. So you must have figured out how to delete the extras. Can't wait to read more. Blogging is fun, isn't it? And you have a comment from someone who isn't a relative or acquaintance. WOW!!!

Anonymous said...

Mama, you are amazing. I love your poetry. Wish I could come and hear you preach tomorrow. Love, Debi

Anonymous said...

Mama,

I love reading your poetry and often wish I could write readable poetry... but I think I exhausted my talent in that direction with my Goldfish poem in 2nd or 3rd grade!

I love you!

David

Anonymous said...

beautiful

Anonymous said...

what a heartwarming poem well stated. Keep writing I really enjoy your words of wisdom. thank you for sharing
Leigh

Jane said...

Aunt Ruth, this poem touched me again as I read it today. I have always loved fall and your poem put into words what I have always felt.
I have given you an award on my blog, come by and see it.

Anonymous said...

THE WATER PISTOL:
WHEN MY THREE-YEAR-OLD SON OPENED THE BIRTHDAY GIFT FROM HIS
GRANDMOTHER,
HE DISCOVERED A WATER PISTOL. HE SQUEALED WITH DELIGHT AND HEADED
FOR THE NEAREST SINK. I WAS NOT SO PLEASED. I TURNED TO MOM AND SAID, "I'M
SURPRISED AT YOU. DON'T YOU REMEMBER HOW WE USED TO DRIVE YOU CRAZY
WITH WATER GUNS?" MOM SMILED AND THEN REPLIED..... "I REMEMBER."


GRANDMA'S AGE:
LITTLE JOHNNY ASKED HIS GRANDMA HOW OLD SHE WAS. GRANDMA
ANSWERED, "39 AND HOLDING." JOHNNY THOUGHT FOR A MOMENT, AND THEN SAID, "HOW OLD
WOULD YOU BE IF YOU LET GO?"

PALM SUNDAY:
IT WAS PALM SUNDAY AND, BECAUSE OF A SORE THROAT, FIVE-YEAR-OLD
JOHNNY STAYED HOME FROM CHURCH WITH A SITTER. WHEN THE FAMILY RETURNED
HOME, THEY WERE CARRYING SEVERAL PALM BRANCHES. THE BOY ASKED WHAT THEY WERE
FOR. "PEOPLE HELD THEM OVER JESUS' HEAD AS HE WALKED BY." "WOULDN'T YOU
KNOW IT," THE BOY FUMED, "THE ONE SUNDAY I DON'T GO, HE SHOWS UP!"

CHILDREN'S SERMON:
ONE EASTER SUNDAY MORNING AS THE MINISTER WAS PREACHING THE
CHILDREN'S SERMON, HE REACHED INTO HIS BAG OF PROPS AND PULLED OUT AN EGG. HE
POINTED AT THE EGG AND ASKED THE CHILDREN, "WHAT'S IN HERE?" "I KNOW!" A
LITTLE BOY EXCLAIMED. "PANTYHOSE!"

SUPPORT A FAMILY:
THE PROSPECTIVE FATHER-IN-LAW ASKED, "YOUNG MAN, CAN YOU SUPPORT A
FAMILY?" THE SURPRISED GROOM-TO-BE REPLIED, "WELL, NO. I WAS JUST
PLANNING TO SUPPORT YOUR DAUGHTER. THE REST OF YOU WILL HAVE TO FEND
FOR YOURSELVES."
FIRST TIME USHERS:

A LITTLE BOY IN CHURCH FOR THE FIRST TIME WATCHED AS THE USHERS
PASSED AROUND THE OFFERING PLATES. WHEN THEY CAME NEAR HIS PEW, THE BOY
SAID LOUDLY, "DON'T PAY FOR ME DADDY. I'M UNDER FIVE."


PRAYERS:
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER ASKED, "NOW, JOHNNY, TELL ME, DO YOU
SAY PRAYERS BEFORE EATING?" "NO SIR," HE REPLIED, "WE DON'T HAVE TO.
MY MOM IS A GOOD COOK!"


CLIMB THE WALLS:
"OH, I SURE AM HAPPY TO SEE YOU," THE LITTLE BOY SAID TO HIS
GRANDMOTHER ON HIS MOTHER'S SIDE. "NOW MAYBE DADDY WILL DO THE TRICK HE HAS BEEN
PROMISING US." THE GRANDMOTHER WAS CURIOUS. "WHAT TRICK IS THAT?"
SHE ASKED. "I HEARD HIM TELL MOMMY THAT HE WOULD CLIMB THE WALLS IF
YOU CAME TO VISIT" THE LITTLE BOY ANSWERED.

LIFE AFTER DEATH:
"DO YOU BELIEVE IN LIFE AFTER DEATH?" THE BOSS ASKED ONE OF HIS
EMPLOYEES. "YES, SIR," THE NEW EMPLOYEE REPLIED. "WELL, THEN,
THAT MAKES EVERYTHING JUST FINE," THE BOSS WENT ON.. "AFTER YOU LEFT EARLY
YESTERDAY TO GO TO YOUR GRANDMOTHER'S FUNERAL, SHE STOPPED BY.