July 15, 2010 (roots of self-destruction)

This is not a photograph
taken in Autumn.
The photo was taken on July 13th.

A favorite tree in our backyard,
a Sugar Maple, is only to be remembered
for the glorious leaves it produced
for many years.
Leaves, thankfully, that I have captured
with a camera.

There are those of us that have
produced much appreciated beauty
and joy in the world
only to have life cut short
by such roots of destruction.

“There are seeds of self-destruction in all of us
that will bear only unhappiness
if allowed to grow.”
- Dorothea Brande

"You can enter God's Kingdom
only through the narrow gate.
The highway to hell is broad,
and its gate is wide
for the many who choose that way.”
- Matthew 7:13 NLT

"Today I have given you the choice
between life and death,
between blessings and curses.
Now I call on heaven and earth
to witness the choice you make.
Oh, that you would choose life,
so that you and your descendants might live!”
- Deuteronomy 30:19 NLT