Grade 3 Leaf Project -- 2013
The rain which began falling after midnight has persisted into the morning and we're told it will get heavier toward noon. We can already see that Autumn leaves have come down in abundance marking the end of a marvellous array of colour this year with a dry spell that kept them on the trees for a prolonged period.
This got me thinking about the regular science project of my primary school days, collecting and mounting leaves. Bristol board and wax paper were involved as we created the subtitles of the trees we had identified. While the wax did preserve the leaves for a while these projects eventually crumbled into obscurity. It wouldn't have occurred to any of us that we were also involved in an exercise of attention and contemplation, a spiritual enterprise in a way. The 50s and early 60s were a period of committed but rather unreflective church-going for the Baby Boomer generation. Choosing to behold the beauty of the natural world in that way didn't occur to the majority of us.
In our semi-dotage we are blessed to be relatively healthy and active. So, in recent days we have been out on the water in our kayaks taking in the loveliness of the Fall foliage in spots where we are virtually alone. As is our custom now we have stopped along the way to give thanks to the Creator in a brief physcial ritual which begins with making the sign of the cross. I'm assuming that the earthly and earthy Jesus never had the opportunity to contemplative the beauty of Autumn colours but I can't imagine that he wouldn't have appreciated them.
Ruth posted a video on Instagram, just over a minute long. of one of our forays which garnered more than 150 likes and a couple of thousand views in a couple of days. The comments from total strangers praised what this everyday wonder.
The theme for Creation Time this year drew on the Burning Bush story of Moses' theophany in the wilderness. What we've seen has been a series of "burning bush" moments which have blessed our souls and we're grateful.
It is encouraging that the photo I found online of a leaf project is from 2013 -- practically yesterday. Are they making a comeback?
2 comments:
Sorry David, from the title of your blog I thought you were referring to the last time the Leafs won the Cup.
No need to say sorry Roger. I can appreciate that your bitterness over the Habs disastrous past season is haunting you. And you're probably nursing the goose-egg from last night's shutout at the hands of the lowly Red Wings. That's an owie. I'll pray that you're feeling better soon.
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