The Nice Thing About Strangers
Creative Non-Fiction Short Stories. :) Travel, Oldsters, Love, and Compassion.
A New Season
“See that tree?” he said.
I nodded
“What color is it?”
I knew he was leading me to an obvious answer that I couldn’t yet see.
“Green” I said. “It’s a green tree.”
“In the fall it will be red,” he said.
And I knew this. I had seen that very tree in the middle of a New England autumn. It was a glorious scarlet.
“And no one sees it change,” he said.
Conversion happens most often in a slow, deliberate, and mysterious way, like a tree changing colors in the fall. And often you can’t see the change in yourself.
But the change comes.
–James Martin, SJ. Jesus: A Pilgrimage
With all the snow I’ve seen lately, I had to call up some Autumn to thaw out. 🙂
The Nice Thing About Strangers 
I love the picture so stunning
Thank you, Joanne! I love those leaves. Fall is really my favorite time of year. 🙂
Yes, for sure. A maple? OK, irrelevant as it’s a metaphor. but, still, is it a maple?
🙂 Yes, Luann, I think it is a maple. I’ll have to check with Mom. It’s one of her lovely trees.
Besides the fact that I also fall for New England’s gorgeous autumns, I love the end of the text you picked. Changes in people can be as subtle as the change of color for a tree and yet be as drastic. Conversations can seem banal and in fact be hinting at some major change. Love the comparison between nature and people.
The words and the photo – both perfection!
Thank you, Julie! I do miss those fall leaves!
Paige
I bought this book to read because I love earlier books by Fr. Martin, but I haven’t started it yet. Thanks for the peek into what’s to come!
🙂 One of my favorite Capuchin monks told me I should read this one. I love his style and his sense of humor. He’s a gift.
Happy February, Jeff!
Paige