Years ago, I read a theory that the color of trees in Autumn is actually their natural state. That God planted trees of gold, amber, and flaming red in the Garden of Eden. But, when sin entered in, the trees had to go to work just like Adam did. The writer equated the food-making process of a tree to Adam’s curse of toiling against thistles and thorns to produce a crop. I bought into that theory for a while. Certainly the colors of fall are glorious enough to be the state of creation at rest.

However, that would mean work is a curse. Which isn’t true. God gave Adam a vocation before sin every slithered into the Garden. The curse just made it harder for Adam to fulfill his destiny as a Keeper of the Trees. (If you struggle with this concept, read Gene Edward Veith’s excellent book on vocation, God at Work. In fact, read it anyway.)

Instead, I think God gave us Autumn just to teach us about seasons. And cycles of life. And to give us a reason to stop along the road and give a round of applause like our friend Mike Herron once did.

The truth is, I don’t know why God stood back at one point in creation and said, “Now, let there be color!” I’m just so glad He did.