&a
  • Billy Ray Chitwood
  • Billy Ray Chitwood - Amazon Book Reviews
  • Goodreads Author Page Link
  • Amazon Author/Book Page
  • Book Reviews
  • Review for
  • An interview: "The Reluctant Savage" (Due 9/1/13)
  • New Page
  • Billy Ray Chitwood - Amazon Book Reviews
  • New Page

BILLY RAY CHITWOOD - Amazon Book Reviews

Colorful Shedding

11/3/2013

4 Comments

 
Picture
Colorful SheddingPosted on November 3, 2013 by billyraychitwood1


                     Colorful Shedding

A blogger buddy of mine, Jill Weatherholt, mentioned some weeks ago that she would like to see the fall colors on the trees around our new Tennessee home. So, I’m sending a couple of pictures, along with some rambling commentary…

Here at this time of year on Tennessee’s Cumberland Plateau among the maple and oak trees the profusion of color delights the senses and it brings out the philosophical and the soulful part of me. My words will not come as terribly original, but they are important for me to say them. Other artists and poets have captured these thoughts and moments for centuries. I wish only to respond to some compelling desire within me.

There is the obvious planetary orbiting of our spinning orb that brings us to this time of year, designed by God or by the ‘Big Bang’ – a choice that divides many of us humans. If you have read some of my previous blog posts and books, my choice would be quite obvious. In my finite mind it is incomprehensible that a ‘Big Bang’ brought such planetary order, the seasons, you and me. The fact that the human mind can create language and words that can titillate us in so many ways, that a particular hand and brush can paint a masterpiece, that other hands can build cities, bridges, roads, or a magnificent sculpture, it all speaks for me of the soul of Man – of the darkness that abides therein for some or the unlimited joy and vivacity of others. Mother Teresa said, “Life is beauty, admire it.” So I do and shall.

It is that time of year when nature speaks to us in subtle ways. Of course, there is a scientific way of describing fall, the bountiful leaves of so many dazzling colors and their falling to put their branches barren until the spring. It is the time of year when old men feel the cold, see the shedding of the beautiful leaves, and yearn for youth that is lost to them but happy to know they live on and can rejoice in their accomplishments. It is that time of year that signifies the shedding those parts of you that have disappointed and kept you frustrated. For some, it is that time of year when they think about the natural order of things and prepare to give thanks to God for their blessings. For others, it is a time of weeping for a lost loved one and troubles that are difficult to bear.

Here on the Cumberland Plateau I’m absorbed in brilliantly colored leaves, watching them slowly drop to the ground and on my deck for sweeping. A year ago I was on the Sea of Cortez in Mexico living on the beach. The southern boy has returned home but he still carries the vision of the sea and small fishing village he left a few months ago. Now, instead of the sparkling cobalt beauty of the ‘Cortez’ stretching to a horizon of poets dreams, I sit and gaze across a spectacular canyon of trees and river, watch the multi-colored leaves float in the breeze, fancy myself a poet, and dream… As English Romantic poet John Keats so eloquently put it: “A thing of beauty is a joy forever.”

There are no regrets in my return to Tennessee, so, sorry, Thomas Wolfe, I could and did come home again. With my wanderlust nature, where could I be next year at this time? Where it is that I might be at any given year, the memories and the beauty of my past moments will gather like these falling leaves. As Mother Teresa also said: “Life is a dream, realize it.”

Please follow me on Twitter – @brchitwood  

http://facebook.com/billyray.chitwood

My books: http://www.goo.gl/fuxUA

Short Bio: http://www.about.me/brchitwood

My main website/blog: http://billyraychitwood.weebly.com

          


4 Comments
Onisha Ellis link
11/4/2013 03:12:42 am

I spent my entire life (well except for infancy) in Florida so the seasons amaze me. I love Spring, Summer and Fall in cooler climates but Winter in Florida is like God smiling on me every day. The wonderful blue skies, colorful flowers and fresh produce year round are delights. That being said, to enjoy Winter in Florida I have to spend the other three seasons where I can breathe fresh, cool air.

Reply
Billy Ray Chitwood link
11/4/2013 04:53:22 am

Thank you, Onisha, for your response... I, too, love Florida any time but particularly in the winter. I've returned home to Tennessee after spending many years in the Arizona desert and on the Sea of Cortez in Mexico... There is beauty everywhere - My wife says God must have had fun making all our variations...Best wishes to you.

Reply
Shannon link
11/6/2013 03:07:22 am

I live across from a park and the leaves are amazing this time of year. There is something magical about each season.

Reply
billy ray chitwood link
11/6/2013 03:49:38 am

Thank you for your response... Spring is my favorite time of year: like, we're starting all over...

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Submit

    Author

    Hill boy from Tennessee still chasing his dreams and running from his demons. Have written nine books, tenth in the oven. Currently beach bumming under soft blue sunny skies on the Sea of Cortez with wife, Julie Anne, and a darn lovable and feisty Bengal cat named George.

    Archives

    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012

    Categories

    All
    Appalachia
    Arizona
    Bad
    Bailey Crane Mysteries
    Beer
    Billy Ray Chitwood
    Billy Ray Chitwood
    Blogsite
    Books
    California
    Caring
    Cartels
    Catholic Church
    Chris Martin
    Computer Language
    Conservatives
    Crime
    Critics
    Cyberspace
    Demons
    Detective
    Digital World
    Distance Running
    Divine Intervention
    Dr Timothy Tays
    Editing
    Emily Frankel
    Em's Talkery
    Environment
    Events
    Evil
    E World
    E-World
    Faith
    Family Crime
    Fog
    Frustration
    Good
    Guilt
    Hope
    Jack Durish
    James Kavanaugh
    Jokes
    Kidnapping
    Liberals
    Life
    Marathon
    Marketing And Sales
    Mexico
    Moods
    Murder
    Mystery
    Ohio
    Pennsylvania
    Personalities
    Phoenix
    Poetry
    Politics
    Post
    Prejudice
    Pride
    Priesthood
    Promoting
    Publishing
    Racing
    Ratings
    Reasons For Writing
    Redneck
    Redneck Humor
    Religion
    Robbery
    Romance
    Running
    Sea Of Cortez
    Selfishness
    Selling
    South
    Southern Baptist
    Story Lines
    Success
    Suspense
    Teasing
    Terror
    Terrorist
    The Ghostly Shroud
    The Sea And Me
    The World
    The World
    Timothy Tays
    Ugliness
    Wannabe Distance God
    What Happens Next?
    White Lightning
    Writing

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Billy Ray Chitwood
  • Billy Ray Chitwood - Amazon Book Reviews
  • Goodreads Author Page Link
  • Amazon Author/Book Page
  • Book Reviews
  • Review for
  • An interview: "The Reluctant Savage" (Due 9/1/13)
  • New Page
  • Billy Ray Chitwood - Amazon Book Reviews
  • New Page