The Coming Fire

Greetings Dear Reader

“Reflections on the water like shadows in my mind, Speak to me of passing days and nights and passing time, The falling leaves are whispering winter's on its way, I close my eyes remembering the warmth of yesterday.” – John Denver

I can see the maples pondering the change in sunlight and talking amongst themselves of their final glory before a frigid winter’s sleep. I was walking with my eldest son the other evening and commented on the evening sunlight and the desire to be fishing. It was then I noticed the maples mumbling but the conversation with my son was too important for me to really listen.

Yesterday, however, I made time to hear what the maples were telling me. Their wagging is telling the tale of the fiery offering they will make as they die for the season. Many of their brothers will give up their sap for our syrup. Some will not last the winter due to age, disease, and the axes of men. But if the conditions are right, the maples will yield a final blaze of beauty before the snows fall.

The summer seems to have flown by and the lingering warmth this week belies the subtle chill apparent at night. I hear all around me those who mourn the loss of summer and coming cold. I embrace it. As I enter this autumn season it holds great change in the seasons of my life. I become a grandfather and already am indulging in the joys of that role. I am in vocations that make me become more of what I should be each day. I am in a place with Christ that whittles away at my fallen self and pushes me to be a part of the redemption process at a deeper level.

So as the maples whisper for me to follow them deeper into this new season, I yearn to only do so if I am actually following Christ more closely. I embrace the changes as they come and hope to give my very best guided by the light of Christ and the fire of Sugar Maples rustling their eager fire in the wind.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn
Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every scribe who has become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a home owner. He brings new and old things out of his treasure store."

What Grudges May I Hold

Greetings Dear Reader

Mat 22:36-40 “Teacher, which commandment is the greatest in Moses' Teachings?" Jesus answered him, "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the greatest and most important commandment. The second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as you love yourself.' All of Moses' Teachings and the Prophets depend on these two commandments."

One of the facets of my journey is achieving a balance in applying the command to always forgive and the responsibility to not be indulgent of things that are wrong. In the midst of this I realized that instead of truly forgiving people I was sometimes just burying my resentment in order to feel I had forgiven them. This caused me to nurse pits of dissatisfaction within and in tense situations these would bubble up as irrational anger in odd situations.

I began to really dig into forgiveness. I had to as I was faced with a wall of wrong and hurt visited upon me without cause. I knew that God wanted me to forgive, but I wanted my way, my rights, and my view of the way things should be. None of that is following Christ. None of that is allowing God to deal with things as he wills. Even if I am right, wanting my way is not wanting Christ’s way.

If I am truly going to follow Christ I have to obey his commands. I have to love God with all my heart, soul, and mind and I have to love my neighbor as I love myself. I cannot do the first without doing the second. I cannot do the first if I hold a grudge against anyone. The only way to do this is instant forgiveness.

I must trust that Christ is working in all his followers to sculpt them into his likeness and to redeem them from their fallen natures. I must believe he has our best in heart when he allows us to endure injustices. I must remain humble and focus on purging my own sin instead of demanding my rights.

I must acknowledge that just because I am right does not mean that someone else will see it that way. When I demand that someone else conform to that I am attempting to displace Christ’s work in them. I cannot afford to not forgive anyone. It lessens my impact for Christ on everyone.

In most cases when I am reluctant to forgive it is my pride, wanting my rights, or my anger that is in the way. No matter what is done to me, I am the one who is responsible for my journey with Christ. Failing to forgive anyone for anything is failing to obey Christ’s primary commands. Refusing to forgive is failing to love them as myself. Failing to do this is failing to love the Father with all my heart, soul, and mind. This means that even one grudge is too many.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn
Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every scribe who has become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a home owner. He brings new and old things out of his treasure store."

The Timbre of Sunlight

Greetings Dear Reader,

“Do you care what’s happening around you? Do your senses know the changes when they come? Can you see yourself reflected in the seasons? Can you understand the need to carry on?” – John Denver

I noticed yesterday morning on my way in to work that the quality of light on the trees had changed. Then I noticed that the trees that get the most direct sunlight had barely begun to change. It is early for that to happen but inevitable. The quality of the sunlight is what stuck with me.

I know that we have enjoyed a blessed relief from the abnormal summer heat over the last week. One night the temperatures flirted with the low forties. I definitely love fall and winter more than summer, except for the swimming, outdoor cooking, and baseball of course. This fall holds more promise than any in quite some time. I will hold my first grandchild and my fourth book will be out. My sons say it is the best yet.

Today, however, my thoughts are captured by the subtle change in the timbre of the sunlight. I do not believed I have ever noticed it so acutely and been impacted by it so deeply. Soon those around me will hide from the coming winter chill. I embrace it. Even the seasons show redemption. “Oh I love the life around me. A part of everything is here in me.”

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn
Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every scribe who has become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a home owner. He brings new and old things out of his treasure store."