Lessons from Leaves
Reflection
I walked to my car after work and glanced at this pile of leaves about three inches deep and about four feet wide. I grinned as I thought about walking through the middle of them, kicking up leaves with every step. The urge to create havoc was real! And then I remembered that I worked at the school, and the hard-working landscaping guys had blown these into a pile for a purpose. This little collection of leaves had me contemplating making a mess, destroying someone’s efforts, all for the momentary fun of seeing them tossed by my footsteps. Honestly, I was surprised at my compulsion. Then a week later, as I walked across campus, I came upon this beauty!
About 10 feet wide and over a foot deep, this huge pile of leaves beckoned me. Despite wearing a dress and heels, I wanted to jump headlong into the middle of this glorious sight. Memories of childhood romps through piles of leaves created by hours of my father’s labor replayed in my mind. I stood there as an adult - for far too long - reminding myself that I should not jump into these leaves. I walked away full of thoughts about the realities of temptations that lure us into places and choices that are not good for us or for others.
Application
Typically, when I think of temptation, I reflect on the passages in Matthew, Mark, and Luke that describe how Jesus was led into the wilderness for forty days and nights to be tempted by the devil, who offered to turn stone into bread. Jesus was hungry; Satan knew it. But, Jesus answered the temptation with Truth, “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4). The devil persists in tempting Christ with proving he was the Son of God, and finally offering Him kingdoms and splendor in return for worshipping him. Jesus’ response was swift, and I can almost hear a booming voice declare, “Away from me, Satan!” To be honest, I don’t love that Jesus Christ was tempted, but I find solace knowing that He understands temptations and, as fully God and fully human, was able to demonstrate resistance to them.
Temptations come in many forms, big and small. Throughout scripture, we see men and women who are tempted by power, pride, lust, greed, gossip, and selfishness. Some, like Joseph and Potiphar, resist the temptation. Others, like David and Bathsheba, yielded to it. I appreciate God’s word demonstrating that our struggles mimic those of the heroes of our faith. Yet, how do we resist temptation when it seems far too easy to succumb to it? Proverbs 4:13-15 states, “Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life. Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evil doers. Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way.”
Closing/conclusion
It can be easy to think we would never be unfaithful, we wouldn’t steal, and we aren’t tempted to kill or harm. But just as the big pile of leaves tempted me, so did the little one that was barely recognizable as a pile. I find that things that tend to tempt me look more like these:
Later not now
Easier not harder
Short-term not long-term
Me not you
More not enough
Spend not save
Exaggeration not truth
And this list only touches the surface, if I am being honest. We must be diligent to stay in the Word, dialogue with our Father, and swiftly acknowledge our wayward thoughts and actions. Proverbs 4 ends with this wisdom: “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.” Temptations - big and small - are all around us and require us to pray, “lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” Put your armor on; it’s easy to jump into a pile that is not for your good or His glory.
Maryellen