The Slow Lane: The Last Day of Summer

On my drive back from Chattanooga to Nashville today, I stopped at one of my favorite backroads in Manchester, TN. Golden September sunshine sang through my hair and ruffled the hem of my church dress as I stepped out of the car and turned off James Taylor. The roadside was buzzing with yellow and purple wildflowers, as if someone had known of my coming and prepared a special welcome. I always leave here inspired by the beauty of creation, for in the quiet and stillness the Lord God speaks.

Black-eyed susan, blue mistflower, and small white aster

I noticed variety and harmony in the way the wildflowers grew in arrangements along the roadside—each one unique and remarkable, yet the same. I also noticed the complimentary color scheme of the yellow and violet together, which can be observed in the wing of a Papilio glaucus and the bloom of a Buddleja davidii, the feathers of an American goldfinch and the liatris he sits upon, or the or the sweeping petals of an Iris versicolor, our state flower.

Yellow + violet complimentary scheme

The avocado green adds a nice contrast:

Further down the the road, the feathery, pink blooms of field thistle introduced another color to the party, which created a split complimentary color scheme of yellow, pink, and violet. The moss green of the foliage created a balanced tetradic theme.

The beauty of the wildflowers reminded me of one of my favorite passages in the Bible found in Luke 12:27-28:

“Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith?”

Late summer roadside wildflowers in Manchester, TN

I also thought of another Bible verse that is frequently quoted, although the second half of the verse is what stood out to me:

“I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Psalm 139:14

What a gift to know that the God who created these beautiful wildflowers with all their nuances and intricacies is the same God who created me and makes all things work together for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). What a joy it is to know God.

Above: 1) black-eyed susan 2) field thistle 3) late-flowering goldenaster 4) Canada goldenrod