falling jars

fall is here. the rains come and go, leaving behind crisp, glistening grey days of meandering sunbursts. the beauty of a newly cleaned leaf, green or golden against a blue sky has a piercing quality. transitory, i feel the urge to go and bathe my eyes in the wonders of this season for all too soon it will pass and the cold that bars me behind closed windows and inside warm wool hats.

echoing in my ears each fall is the music of jars of clay, especially their "who we are instead" album. through sharp guitar and creative accompaniment and rhythm they capture the feel of bittersweet transitory beauty. lyrics tell of the age-old struggle with this life that at once entices and destroys, and of the sublime hope that this is not the end.

so when i'm lonely or when i'm old

life is more behind me

all the stories have been told

i can fix my gaze up through the clouds

where i'm gonna be...

my heavenly