photo by Guido Montanes Castillo (mask available at fineartamerica.com)
Thought for the Week
Who doesn’t love autumn? And by “autumn,” of course, we mean mid-fall when all the leaves on the trees have finally turned to gold and amber and rubies. But what about late fall when the limbs are bare and the skies have turned to steel? Few covet “fallter,” the transition from fall to winter when all the world seems to have died.
But has it? No, it’s simply cloistering, preserving its life and warmth, waiting to burst forth anew in the spring. Now look again at all those empty limbs and moody skies. There’s a story within them, a story of overcoming. There’s a stark beauty in that. And within us, if we nurture it. Not the beauty of seeing, but the beauty of knowing we too can overcome if we look past the bare limbs and steely skies of 2020. There’s more to the story…
Within us.
Mitch Teemley 
Awesome post…. until the last line, which strikes me as just a little ominous.
“What lies within” – – cue the creepy horror movie music! ;-D
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Thanks for the feedback, Linda. I agree. I rewrote the last part to make it clearer–and less ominous. ;>)
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I’m sorry, I was just trying to be funny, because my brain is quirky like that. I do like the rewrite, though.
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Faith.
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The hope and strength for rebirth always is just below the snow covered world.
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I pray that good will prevail. I believe in optimism even when it is hard to find. And I believe God has a plan! 🙏🏻
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Much needed reminder today, Mitch, as the skies are steely and the trees are bare and the cold wind is blowing in middle Tennessee. Thanks, and Merry Christmas!
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You too, Gina!
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Plants and trees benefit from winter; we can benefit from “the bare limbs and steely skies of 2020.” Perseverance, inner strength, patience, consideration of others (by wearing our masks, for example), kindness to those less fortunate, are a few areas that readily come to mind. We can come out of this better people if we so choose!
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Amen, Nancy!
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*Deciduous*
Lifeless? No, leafless.
Trees hold their breath all winter,
exhale leaves in spring.
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“Not the beauty of seeing, but the beauty of knowing we too can overcome if we look past the bare limbs and steely skies of 2020. There’s more to the story…” Thanks for the reminder Mitch. There is so much more to the story – 2020 is only a single chapter in our lives. I suspect that it may be a bit longer than some of them though.
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I suspect you may be right, Shirley.
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Important reminder…loved the image used 👌
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Thank you.
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Well said! And a timely reminder, too.
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Thank you, Ann.
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Greetings. I like way you describe autumn, dividing it into distinct sections. I’d never given that a whole lot of thought before. As I write this, I’m looking out a window at the first snowfall my region has gotten in well over a year. Though it’s not officially winter yet, winter nonetheless has arrived. Neil Scheinin
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Thanks, Neil. Yes, we’re looking out at snow here, too, although it’s not that rare a site in Cincinnati.
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“Falter.”
That’s awesome.
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Thanks for your awesome content! Keep it up.
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Thank you, Adan. I’ll try. Happy New Year!
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