Leaves, Stars, And Other Visitors From The Sky

"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven."
Ecclesiastes 3:1


Early this morning I had "blogger's block" so I decided get my creative juices flowing with some physical exercise by raking the leaves.  According to the DC Leaf Pickup Schedule ours should have already been out by the curb.  However past experience has taught me that the DC Leaf Pickup Schedule is at best one big guess.

As I raked and loaded leaves in a garbage can to carry to the curb (about ten trips worth), my imagination took flight remembering that not so long ago these same leaves had provided shade as we sat on the back deck enjoying warm summer mornings. I had watched the same leaves shimmer in early autumn breezes. And just recently they floated like big brown snowflakes to the ground awaiting our annual ritual of raking and hauling. It was like lulling away the morning with thousands of good friends.

My early afternoon was spent putting up the star that has adorned the Capitol Hill Presbyterian Church tower the past two Christmas Seasons.  With assistance from our Church Facilities Director, Robert Haywood, who was down inside the tower and me on top the tower the star was installed. It was a crystal clear day and the view from atop the tower was magnificent, a view of Washington, DC surpassed only by that from the Washington Monument.  

With the star installed I walked a couple of blocks to grab a late lunch.  On the way back to the church I looked up to the tower and saw a very large bird perched on the edge of the tower looking up at the star.  About that time I saw Garibaldi who manages the bank parking lot behind the church.  

He pointed at the bird and said, "It's an eagle!"

"Are you sure?"  I asked

"It has to be?" Garibaldi insisted.

"But what if it's a buzzard?"

"Makes no difference."  He said smiling.  "It's still a visitor from the sky!"

Sure enough, regardless of what kind it was, a curious visitor from the eastern sky had come to see what the star was all about.

The Christmas Star will be officially lighted at a community gathering on the First Sunday of Advent, December 1 at 5:00 pm.  If you can, come join us and other visitors from the sky.