Today I had an appointment in Macon, and I found myself driving down one of the old streets there a little ways from the downtown area. As I looked down the street towards my destination, the sight before me took my breath away.
Ginkgo trees in all their golden glory lined both sides of the street.
Beautiful.
I remember the words my pastorfriend quoted from “The Color Purple” about how God must feel if we go by a field of purple flowers and don’t take notice. If that is how our Creator feels about a purple field, I can’t imagine it’s any less important for us to notice that beautiful gold that fairly glows in the afternoon sun.
I’m in love. As I drove on, I thought about my oldest asking me in the past week what I want for Christmas.
I think it might just be a ginkgo. Or ten.
Well, that and a weeping willow or two. I have my Bradford pear (that has yet to catch afire with the flaming red and golden leaves–seems late to me this year for some reason), and I have my heavenly smelling tea olives. I even have a couple of magnolias. So yes, I think a ginkgo would be just the perfect addition.
As I sat at my appointment thinking about all those lovely trees whose leaves were dropping to make a golden carpet beneath, I remembered seeing just such a sight at my home away from home–Wesleyan College, where I made such wonderful memories and where my oldest calls home for now. They also had them in Japan which we enjoyed seeing while we lived there. The ginkgo is another tree whose story is interwoven with mine.
Our roots are bound together now. And I love that.
What tree or plant shares in your story? Which ones bring you joy just at the sight of them?
Loving this time of year when, quite frankly, so many of the trees are showing off before crawling into bed for the winter.
Love to all.
I Might Need A Nap 