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"WHEN I IN AWESOME WONDER…"
Michigan's Golden Coast
Autumn's Color
I am awestruck every fall with the beautiful
colors of the leaves as the shortened daylight brings a steady march of
change into winter. There is a wonderful mixture of colors in the variety
of the plants along the shore. There are the brilliant reds, oranges and
yellows of the maples. The sumacs form mounds of brilliant red to orange
splashes of color. The blueberry bushes and black gum have a deep red
to burgundy color that is often highlighted by the yellow and golds of
the birches, poplars and sassafras that surround them in the sandy, acidic
soils of the shoreline. It is no wonder that many admirers take time to
go on "color tours" when the trees are at their peak colors.
In fact, the tourist industry gets a huge boost at this time with many
out of state travelers coming to the Great Lakes region to view the display.
The biology and chemistry behind the changing
of the leaves into so many different colors is very interesting. During
the growing season water and nutrients flow into the leaves from the roots.
There they are combined with carbon dioxide to produce sugars through
the process of photosynthesis where the energy of the sun is harnessed
to accomplish that change. The green pigment in leaves, called chlorophyll,
is used to absorb the energy of the sunlight and drive this process. When
the temperature is warm and daylight hours are long, chlorophyll is in
such high production that its green color overwhelms the other pigments
that are in the leaf. When the shorter days are cool temperatures of fall
arrive, changes in the plant reduce the production of chlorophyll so that
the other pigments like carotene (responsible for the yellows) and anthcyanins
(responsible for the reds) are revealed in the leaves. They were there
all the time, but were hidden by the bright green of the chlorophyll.
The variety and brightness of the colors
is greatly influenced by the weather. Low temperatures above freezing
destroys the green chlorophyll and increases the other pigments. Bright
sunshine does the same thing in the fall season. Also, dry weather increases
sugar production in the sap which also intensifies the other pigments.
To combine it all, the brightest and most intense colors are when dry
weather is combined with sunny days and cool nights. The result is the
fantastic display of color we enjoy in the fall. Our senses can hardly
drink it all in. Just to picture it in my minds eye, I smell the musty
scent of the dry leave and hear them rustle in the wind and under my feet
as I walk. The beautiful intensifies until, suddenly, it is done. A rain
the night before can strip the trees bare before morning.
Have you ever considered that the colors
of the trees of the forest are a wonderful sermon about salvation spoken
by the Great Creator. The gold of the maples, sassafras, beeches, and
birch tell of His holiness before which no sinner can stand. The orange
of t he maples and sumacs speak of the fire of hell to which man is condemned
in his sin. The blackness of the wet trunks of the trees after a fall
rain tells of the darkness of sin apart from God. The red of the maples
and black gums speak of the blood of the Savior which He poured out on
the cross to pay the price of sin before God. The white blanket of the
first wet snow that covers the trees before they have lost their leaves
proclaims that cleanliness of a soul that has been redeemed. The beautiful
silver bark of the beech tree teaches us that the child of God must be
purified through trials like silver is tried by the fire. And, finally,
the green reminds us of the outpouring of blessings on us as we rest in
the pastures of His love.
Indeed, all things sing the praises of our
great God for all the wonders He has wrought!
Forest Message
God with such beauty His forest doth dress,
The colors His greatness and goodness confess.
Gold covered birches His holiness declare,
The white bark His purity the saints do share.
The crimson blueberry and black gum do remind,
In His blood alone true forgiveness we find.
The orange of the sumac and maple do show,
Sinners the fire God's wrath surely know.
The purple of the plum His royalty displays,
A King of His people He sovereignty saves.
The rolling hills with verdure are clad,
As blessings continually make our hearts glad.
The silver beech speaks of the saint who is tried,
As by fire from the dross the silver is purified.
Each breath inhaled in amazement of praise,
As forest color a song of wonder displays.
The forest in manifold color cries out,
The seasons continue till He comes with a shout.
His own, redeemed, with their hope fixed above.
In the fall see His handiwork expressing His love.
Lord, open my eyes to the beauty all around,
To the colors as pictures of salvation are found.
Deane Wassink, September 2002
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