the persimmon tree

Every year, a new tree in our yard seems to get my full attention. This year, it's the persimmon tree. Standing tall with rounded, orange fruit near the top, the leaves scream reds, oranges and yellows. The leaves typically fall quickly, so one must pay close attention to the short-lived, fanciful display.

While looking at the tree the other day, I meditated on a passage from Psalm 116: "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints." That sentence somehow both haunts me and comforts me. I reflected on the deaths we've faced recently, and about life's cycle. The seasons and nature echo this pattern. I also thought about how some people are like the persimmon - bright, but short lived. Some are like our large maple -the last to go; the brightest and most beautiful at the end. Some favour our pine - always green.

Thank you, God, for the lesson of the persimmon tree this week.