The Turning Of The Seasons

 

The clocks have gone back - and for me that always marks the turning of the seasons. My four small sunflowers, which were never going to grow into massive golden discs, like their sisters higher up the stem, have been snipped. They stand on the window sill in a red coffee pot - bringing joy and colour to these darkening autumn days. 

Half term is ended and the family have returned to London. November starts tomorrow and I shall begin serious preparations "to celebrate the birth of our Lord" [we've been using this phrase in family conversations so that we don't mention the C word in front of Rosie!]

For ten years, we arrived here at Cornerstones on Christmas Day in the late afternoon, after Bob had done the morning service at church. Last year we didn't come at all [pandemic] This year we will already be here on Christmas morning. That is, after we get back from Chapel, where Bob is taking the Midnight Christmas Eve service. 

Much has happened in the last 6½ months since we moved here, joyful things and sad things, but all part of the Circle of Life. Over 300 years ago, Nahum Tate, the Poet Laureate who wrote the hymn 'While Shepherds Watched ' also wrote a hymn base don Psalm 34, which reflects life through the seasons

"Through all the changing scenes of life, in trouble and in joy
The praises of my God shall still my heart and tongue employ"

In the book of Ecclesiastes, chapter 3, the writer speaks of the different seasons. Take a few minutes to listen to those words, in this beautiful song written by Pete Seeger 60 years ago, singing here in a duet with Judy Collins.