Leaves of Every Shade and Color

            When people list their top reasons for living in the northern part of the country, the weather usually does not make the list.  The “permacloud” that seems to last from now until May might have something to do with it.  Still, we try to spin things in a positive light by saying things like, “I really enjoy that we see four seasons here.”  We casually leave out the fact that winter lasts disproportionately longer that the other three!  No one could deny, however, the days of sheer autumn beauty we witness each year.  We are right in the middle of this time now, and every time I experience it, I find myself simultaneously amazed at the breathtaking views and wistful that they last only a short while. 

            As I was taking a walk on just such a fall day recently, I found myself thinking about the life cycle of a leaf, how it mirrors something in our families.  During the budding phase, there is an excitement of new beginnings and life, but for most of its life, a leaf looks healthy yet unremarkably green.  It is only at the end of its life, as the chlorophyll dissipates, that a leaf exhibits its true and wonderful color.  Regrettably, we only get to enjoy the sight for relatively little time before the leaf falls to the ground. 
            Our lives, too, are filled with excitement and potential during our early days, but once we settle into a rhythm of life, most of our days are unexceptional or even monotonous.  Yet it is towards the end of our lives that time becomes precious as we reshuffle our priorities and have a final chance to show our true selves.  Like the leaves, those people keenly aware of their mortality are the ones who often manifest the most wisdom and perspective. 
            I wonder, though, if those of us stuck in our own normal hectic schedules miss the beauty and wisdom that surrounds us in our family members advanced in years.  How often do we hurry through life without taking stock of God’s grace visible in these persons, who, like the colorful leaves, will not remain with us on earth much longer?  We can certainly all think of instances and stories of the elderly who spend their final days lonely or feeling discarded by the world for a perceived lack of usefulness.  Even as a leaf can no longer provide nutrients to the tree, its color and evidence of a life well lived are gifts all their own.  How might we better honor those who, despite whatever physical or even mental ailments affect them now, have lived good, holy, and fruitful lives? 
            Certainly, the Church makes a concerted effort in this regard.  From the frequent sacramental care provided for the aged or infirm to the celebration of lengthy anniversaries of marriages, ordinations, final religious vows, or birthdays, we acknowledge the dignity of every person and the beauty of each life.  Even the care with which we pray at funerals exhibits that we are, as a Church, consistently committed to honoring those who have, as St. Paul says, “fought the good fight, finished the race, and kept the faith.” 
​            Consequently, it is important that we take our cues from the ministry of the Church and seek to love and respect those who face the end of their earthly days.  We must appreciate the wonder of these lives as they color our world like a crisp and memorable autumn scene.  After all, it would be our loss to neglect noticing such instances of grandeur.  Their beauty foreshadows our ultimate vision of bliss and is a demonstration of the hope that we have in eternal life.