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Pikes Peak, Colorado
The fall colors are late in coming to much of Colorado this year, especially around Pikes Peak. Many of us jump in our cars the last two weeks of September heading to Cripple Creek expecting to see the forest ablaze with color. I hoped for a little more color this past Monday when I took this picture.
Even though I was disappoint, I still enjoyed the journey.
What struck me as I walked through this grove of aspen was the old tree to the right standing in the midst of the younger trees. As many of you know, aspen are like weeds. New aspen spring up from the roots of older aspen. These younger trees in this picture are the babies of the older tree.
The older tree shows the results of age. It has character. The younger trees are cleaner and straighter and are in the process of developing their character.
"We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love." Romans 5:3-5 New Living Translation
This older aspen has a beauty because of the trials it has face. There is beauty in the life that has endured trials, especially those struggles that are the result of faith in Christ.
For the older "trees" among us these words of Paul encourage us not to lose hope. As we feel the marks of life and the struggles of faith we are confidence that God fills "our hearts with his love." God uses the scars to do his work in the lives of others.
For the younger "trees," God intends that we see the scars on those who have endured the battle to be an encouragement to us that a life of faith is worth the struggle and that God produces his work through the battle.
In the hands of God, the trials of life produce a beauty of its own.
Join the conversation at Praying With the Eyes on Facebook. http://www.facebook.com/groups/173881749421231/
Even though I was disappoint, I still enjoyed the journey.
What struck me as I walked through this grove of aspen was the old tree to the right standing in the midst of the younger trees. As many of you know, aspen are like weeds. New aspen spring up from the roots of older aspen. These younger trees in this picture are the babies of the older tree.
The older tree shows the results of age. It has character. The younger trees are cleaner and straighter and are in the process of developing their character.
"We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love." Romans 5:3-5 New Living Translation
This older aspen has a beauty because of the trials it has face. There is beauty in the life that has endured trials, especially those struggles that are the result of faith in Christ.
For the older "trees" among us these words of Paul encourage us not to lose hope. As we feel the marks of life and the struggles of faith we are confidence that God fills "our hearts with his love." God uses the scars to do his work in the lives of others.
For the younger "trees," God intends that we see the scars on those who have endured the battle to be an encouragement to us that a life of faith is worth the struggle and that God produces his work through the battle.
In the hands of God, the trials of life produce a beauty of its own.
Join the conversation at Praying With the Eyes on Facebook. http://www.facebook.com/groups/173881749421231/
(Click on picture to enlarge.)
Text and Photographs ©Copyright 2013 Douglas P. Brauner. ARR.
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