In Perfect Harmony

           

Colossians 3:14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

On a recent visit to my daughter and son-in-law’s in Massachusetts, we decided to travel down towards Cape Cod and partake in the cranberry harvest festival, something that had been on my bucket list for several years. As we set out on a Sunday morning when the grandkids got home from Sunday school, my focus was on the many anticipated cranberry-related events of the day—the actual harvest, the festival food booths, the multitude of New England craft exhibits, the numerous road entertainers and musicians, and the beautiful setting of the bogs.

That was, until we made our way through the Boston burbs and got out on the highway. It was at this beginning of our journey that I was struck with the true awesomeness of New England foliage in mid-October, totally catching me by surprise. Yes, I knew that the travel brochures were filled with opportunities to view the colorful landscapes of New England in the fall; and yes, I have several friends who have come home to report the beauty of such trips. However, I had been inadequately prepared for the abundant splendor of a New England autumn!

It was at this juncture that my sole purpose became capturing the most gorgeous of trees that lined the thoroughfare—those with the many shades of reds, yellows, oranges, greens, golds, browns, burgundys and everything in between. It was tricky looking ahead to select the most gorgeous trees and then being ready with camera aimed to shoot them as we passed. My photographic adventure was accompanied by my constant ooh’s and awe’s as I declared each new tree as the prettiest yet. The beauty of God’s creation was both striking and inspirational!

Later in the day, as I was sitting out in the crisp but glorious sunshine waiting for the grandkids to come down from the cranberry harvest viewing podium, I could no longer postpone reviewing my many photos from the drive that morning. I was so eager to see what I had captured during my frantic photo shoot earlier in the day…(Would the most magnificent tree be a crimson, a golden, a crisp burgundy? Would I even be able to choose a favorite?)

As I scanned over fifty snapshots from the trip, I was totally disappointed at my bounty. I KNEW I had selected only the best-of-the-best trees to capture on my camera; yet when I scrolled through the multitude of images, each and every tree was a disenchantment compared to the blazing foliage my mind’s eye had witnessed at the same time. Their likenesses were unrecognizable compared to the glorious trees I remembered and had just seen a few hours earlier.

The cranberry harvest did NOT disappoint. After saturating our day with the many sights and sounds of a New England festival, we headed to the van, beginning our journey homeward. This time, I wasn’t remotely interested in trying to capture the foliage. What I thought had been beyond beautiful showed up as mediocre looking vegetation. (I made a mental note to myself to have my vision checked when I got back to Kansas.)

Then, much to my surprise, I found myself gazing out the van window, again in amazement. The flamboyant fall foliage was more beautiful than I had even remembered or could have imagined. It was on that trip back to Boston that I relaxed and let my mind wander while looking out the window—it took the totality of the hillsides full of beautiful and harmonious trees to make up the splendid display of colors I had so enjoyed before, and a single tree by itself could not create that glorious impression.

Much like we are at First Christian Church of Girard, as individual members, we have our own value for sure, but it is when we come together as a unified congregation that we can worship, serve and glorify the Lord in an amazing way.

Join us some Sunday and see the harmonious beauty that belonging to Christ’s family creates. None of us alone is as great as all of us together.

Roaming through New England……

                        Terry