Exposed

It's late Autumn and most trees have dropped their leaves. Only a few weeks ago, the same trees were ablaze with color. People flocked to admire the beauty. Now the trees are bare, the color gone. And the people are hurrying about their lives once again. They hardly notice the trees now. When they do, it is only to comment how bare, drab or depressing they look.

The naked trees are exposed to their very being. Every twig shows scars from each leaf that fell. The crooked and imperfect branches once hidden under a leafy canopy are on display for all to see.

But who of us is unlike those bare trees? I've often said that we all have our own demons. By that, I mean we all have scars, insecurities, heartaches or issues that we try to cover and hide from the world. Some of us have more "leaves" to cover these imperfections than others. Yet we can't hide from ourselves. Even when covered in a beautiful disguise, we know our demons. Eventually, we all drop our colorful leaves. Their beauty is only a memory. We feel naked, our numerous scars and imperfections on display for all to see.

Think of the trees. Though stripped of their leaves, they remain. Though exposed to the harshness of winter, they stand firm. Though their imperfections are on display, they grow stronger. Look closely at the trees and see the true beauty. Though many trees are similar, no two are exactly the same. All are beautiful, but none are perfect. There is stark beauty in the empty branches. As winter sets in and the cold and snow arrive, the trees continue on. Occasionally a new dawn will reveal hoarfrost covering the branches. As the sun breaks through, it appears as though the tree's very soul has wept in the night, it's tears have crystallized and now sparkle in the new day. There is beauty, even in the midst of grief.

Who of us has not felt as though we stand alone, naked in the depth of winter? Though our physical and emotional scars are exposed, we go on.  Though all can see our imperfections, our limitations or our grief, we survive and even grow.  Like the trees, we each are different, all beautiful but none exactly the same. Our struggles may be similar, but none of our branches identical. Yet there is stark beauty in having our very being exposed. The tears of our souls are like the sparkling hoarfrost on the tree branches. Only when we are stripped of everything and left exposed for all to see, do we realize we still have everything we truly need: Our amazing God.

Just as He brings the trees through the bitter cold and harsh storms of winter, God remains with us and guides us through the cold and bitter storms of life. Like the trees, we come through these storms stronger and more aware that with God we can handle anything. Then, He blesses us the new leaves of Springtime and we appreciate their beauty more than ever before. We know we will be exposed again, but have even more faith and know that He will guide us through.