Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” [John 12:24 NIV]
Death is hard. It is hard to face and to deal with. It leaves us grieving and often with many questions. But, during one of my early morning walks recently, I realised there is also beauty in death.
Autumn is almost over now, but for the past few months I have been admiring the yellow, orange, brown and red colours of the leaves. There is a beauty about autumn which you don’t see in other months of the year. That warmth of colour as you drive down a road lined with deciduous trees. But it struck me the other day, that these leaves are actually in the process of dying. When we look at a tree with golden leaves with delight, we are admiring the process of death.
It is part of a season. The next season leaves the trees looking dormant and barren — even ugly. But, then in spring, they burst forth with new life, usually with flowers to boot, and an array of colours far greater than that of autumn.
The same in life. There can be beauty in the process. I’ve heard many stories of people treasuring the most special times of life with someone who is dying. Then afterwards there is the season of loss and grief. But, then there is another generation who take up the legacy left behind, bursting out with new life and abundance.
I guess death really has lost its sting when you look at it like that…
Romancing The Rock 
Fantastic thoughts. Autumn is my favourite season and really does show the beauty in the old passing away to make room for the new. An elderly family matriarch or patriarch surrounded by their family does have a similar feeling. It’s a great way of looking at it.
Yes, it is very much like the Matriarch or Patricarch passing the baton on. And then there is the Eternal Summer when the cycle is complete – in Heaven. 🙂