A Blaze of Glory
My husband and I finally took some time this afternoon to go for a drive and enjoy the crisp, sunny fall day. As we passed the state park, my husband called out, “Look how beautiful the leaves are!” I nodded in agreement, and for miles afterward, I continued to marvel at the striking shades of red, orange, and yellow surrounding us. As I took it all in, something occurred to me that I had never really considered before, and it suddenly seemed perfectly clear.
Like the seasons of nature, the seasons of our lives are always changing. As they say, change is the one constant. There are summers in our lives, those relaxing and enjoyable times when everything seems to be flourishing and life is filled with warmth, beauty, and fun. But those seasons don't last forever, and sooner or later, we all experience winters of one kind or another—times when life becomes difficult, the days seem darker, and the warmth and joy we've known can feel far away. Today, the autumn trees taught me an important lesson about how to move through life’s inevitable transitions.
Rather than quietly fading into the cold and darkness with a gloomy display, the trees seem determined to make this transition from the brightness of summer to the darkness of winter—from abundance to scarcity—in a blaze of glory! They burst forth with magnificent color, putting on a breathtaking show of beauty, almost as though they're proclaiming with absolute confidence, “Winter is not the end of the story!” It's as though they're celebrating all they've been and facing whatever lies ahead without fear, trusting that beyond the cold and darkness, new life awaits.
Unlike the magnificent autumn trees, I don't always make life's transitions so gracefully. In fact, I don't even have to look beyond the approaching winter to recognize how differently I respond! While the trees are putting on their confident, colorful, glorious display, I'm already complaining about the shorter days, the cold weather, and the long, dark months ahead, definitely not putting forth my best self! Rather than allowing the beauty, joy, and goodness God has placed within me to shine through, I can become irritable and negative, reflecting more of the darkness I'm anticipating than the light of God that never fades.
As I think back on those wise and beautiful autumn trees, I am grateful for the many lessons God offers us through His creation. While I may not be able to control the changes that come with life, I can choose how I respond to them. I can pray for the grace to face life's changes with that same beauty, strength, and joyful spirit displayed by the trees, so that when others look upon the tree of my life as the seasons change, they will see God's love and light shining through me in a blaze of glory!
All Reflections are written by Dr. Nina Marie Corona, founder of AFIRE Ministries. To explore more of her reflections on finding God in everyday life, visit When on Earth: Discovering Christian Spirituality in the Daily Happenings of Ordinary Life
© 2026 Nina Marie Corona. All rights reserved.
