[Some thoughts prompted by fallen leaves]

In a desperate bid for immortality, a leaf does a chemical deal with the pavement.

“I was here. Don’t forget me” he says.

But how foolish! How can we forget? We can see the tree. It is alive because he - the leaf - did his job. Harnessing light’s power to turn water and CO₂ into food, giving life to the tree and breathing out oxygen to sustain our lives too.

Without a doubt, despite his short life, he left his mark. He just needed to look to the source of his life to see the valuable part that he was playing: fulfilling his role, growing old gracefully and then letting go, in readiness for another to take his place in a few short months Keeping the tree growing and the story going.

May we leave our mark not in monuments of pride or folly, in signs that say “Look at me!”, while whispering under their breath “but now I am gone”. No, may our mark be the one made with the indelible writing of love. Love for the God who has shown such love to us, and love for all those around us, who are so essential to make the story complete.

And so may we keep the story alive. Until He returns and brings it to a perfect end.