Glorious Distraction

Celebrating Diversity in Creation

Glorious Distraction

I am a sucker for fall foliage.

As I drive down the road

I have to remind myself

to pay attention to the traffic

not the trees.

The sublime palette of colors

draws our attention.

Once while traveling through

New England’s hardwood hillsides,

a bright orange Maple

stopped me in my tracks.

Pulling over to the side of the road,

I was moved to applaud

this glorious distraction.

As a gardener I also celebrate

this autumnal season of harvest.

A ripening red Oak reminds

that the hours of tending my vegetables

bring rich rewards.

A multicolored Sweet Gum

mirrors the staggered stages

in this aging sexagenarian’s frame.

Why do we savor

this month of colors

and not with even greater pleasure

rejoice in the many colors and

cultures on the human family tree?

Perhaps we need to slow down on our journey

and stop to behold the beauty

of our bronze and black

and brown brothers and sisters.

Just as the creation

thrives through bio-diversity,

our civilization is sustained and

enriched by a richly variegated human landscape.

Turn off the road,

look,

savor,

and celebrate all the foliage!