Photo ©2025 by Darren Milam
Wednesday, December 10, 2025
During a recent stroll through the nearby woods, I caught a glimpse of these maple leaves, (growing on a Vine Maple tree). As you can see, the sunlight is penetrating the thin green leaves, almost highlighting them against the darker foliage of the evergreen boughs.
For those that know much about the Pacific Northwest, typically green leaves on just about anything are a sign of healthy growth. You can see from this image that this Vine Maple is very much in the shade of many larger trees around. Even so, enough nourishment sneaks under the canopy to provide the needed nutrients for growth and life.
Using that same thought, we live under some pretty harsh conditions — under a veil of sin. We see the shadows all around and at times we feel the ceiling nearly blocking our nutrients. Just like these green leaves, God provides. He pierces the darkness and the shadows. His life, His nutrients, reach us. We bathe in the beams of light and can grow closer and closer to Him.
John 1:1-5 summarizes it best:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
Thank you, God, for knowing what we need before we do. Thank you, God, for providing the nutrients to thrive and grow closer to you. Amen.