Getting Ready to Die Can Be Beautiful
New England in autumn looked as though nature had been handed a huge box of bright paints and decided to use every last colour!
For years, my wife had wanted to see the famous fall colours.
Every autumn, our children would drive around admiring the spectacle, and we watched the brilliant reds, golds, and oranges on video calls.
This time, we planned our American trip to experience it for ourselves.
And what a show it was!
Hillsides blazed with colour.
Country roads disappeared beneath golden canopies, while trees seemed determined to save their best display for last.
Some had already shed their leaves.
Others were still putting on a spectacular show.
Watching them, I found myself thinking about my own autumn.
Of course, trees have certain advantages over us.
They don’t have aching knees to negotiate before climbing stairs.
They don’t need a comfortable bed after an 18-hour journey from India.
And they don’t have to worry about forgetting where they left their glasses!
Growing older does bring its little inconveniences.
But there are still stories to tell, laughter to share, places to discover, and people to love.
Life hasn’t run out of surprises simply because we’ve accumulated a few years.
What stayed with me was the way the trees handled change.
Their leaves turned brilliant shades of red, gold, and orange before falling.
The trees would stand bare for a while, only to burst into fresh green when spring returned.
Each season had its own beauty, even when it looked nothing like the one before.
Perhaps life has its seasons, too.
We change as the years pass.
Some things fall away, new interests take their place, and unexpected pleasures find their way into our lives.
The colours may change, but there is always the possibility of discovering something new to enjoy.
And for now, I’m happy to enjoy my autumn colours, while keeping an eye out for whatever fresh shades life may have in store!
