Posts Tagged: autumn

“On Falling Leaves, Death, and Life”

On November 12, 2021 by Dteb With 0 Comments - down to earth believer

“When the white eagle of the North

Is flying overhead

And the browns, reds and golds of autumn

Lie in the gutter, dead

Remember then, the summer birds

With wings of fire flaying

Come to witness Spring’s new hope

Born of leaves decaying

As new life will come from death

Love will come at leisure

Love of love, love of life

And giving without measure

Gives in return a wondrous yearn

Of a promise almost seen

Live hand-in-hand

And together we’ll stand

On the threshold of a dream….” (The Moody Blues, from their 1969 album “On the Threshold of a Dream”)

I was watching a leaf falling from a tree on a beautiful, warm day in November. I had just gotten word that a good friend had died. I’ll call him “John”. This is not his real first name. We try to be very protective of people’s privacy in our groups. We were part of a group for mutual support and accountability.

John had a severe stroke two weeks ago. He died on November 10. When I got the word that I did not want to hear, I went outside for a good cry. And then, there was this leaf, this beautiful golden leaf falling slowly to the ground.

The tree didn’t seem to be upset about this. But then, I don’t understand the language of trees.

John was always encouraging to me and very insightful. He was a leader in our group, and I doubt that we can replace him. Perhaps no one can ever really be replaced. He loved his wife, his children, and his grandchildren. Often, John struggled to love and value himself. Most of us can identify with that.

This morning, I read the news that Graeme Edge, the drummer for the Moody Blues, had died. He wrote and spoke the words that lead off this post. In the poem, Edge speaks of remembering summer and hoping toward spring. Yes! And amen!

There is a rumor that is occasionally heard—and more often dismissed—that there is a life beyond this one. I struggle to believe that sometimes. I take heart from the fact that God’s people in both the Old and New Testaments also struggled to believe it. Struggling to believe something is not a sign that it is either true or false.

But since I usually struggle more to believe what turns out to be true, I suspect that there really is a life after this one. John was determined to live his life with integrity and to help others to do so as well. He certainly helped me. He was preparing himself for living well in this life and in the next life, although he entered it much sooner than any of us wanted.

R.I.P. John and Graeme.

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