life lessons [from david bazan].

while i was getting ready for my interview this morning, i heard david bazan's "curse your branches" playing in the background.

i've heard the song plenty of times before, but i suddenly paid attention to the words bazan was singing.

you can listen here:

[the chorus]

all fallen leaves should curse their branches

for not letting them decide where they should fall

and not letting them refuse to fall at all

and i thought that's crazy. 

NO, fallen leaves should not curse their branches. because leaves are supposed to fall.

and then the metaphor connected. 

i am the leaf. and often, i try to decide where i should fall.

or i decide that i shouldn't fall at all, because my spot in the big tree, on this nice branch, with a great view is just too comfortable to change right now. i'll stay right where i am, thank you very much. 

but leaves have to fall. it's the only way for a tree to grow.

scientifically, there isn't enough light or water for a tree to make its own food in the winter, so the food-making capabilities of the leaves are no longer needed. leaves lose their chlorophyll, change colors and fall. 

and don't we all admire the colors of changing leaves in fall? we love that kind of change.

but what about change in us?

we are the leaves. and often, we don't get to decide where we fall.

or how we fall.

or if we fall.

sometimes, we consume ourselves with frustrations of why we fell here, we forget the beauty in change.

i think in the same way we enjoy the change of seasons, God enjoys the change in us. 

which is why He allows us to fall, and places us exactly where we need to be.

so rather than clinging tightly to the branch that feels comfortable, i'd like to enjoy the changing seasons of life, and be joyful, regardless of where i fall.