Thought for the Week with Marilyn Shedden

I can hardly believe we are into October already. These glorious sun-kissed days of May seem a distant memory. Cold winds and chilly rain give us intimation of winter just around the corner. Time flies past us and we cannot put on the ‘pause’ button no matter how much we wish to. Yet there is order in the seasons which gives us reassurance that the cycle of life continues. The rhythm of the year gives shape and purpose to our lives. The harvest is safely gathered in and our farmers can relax for a time. Seed-time and harvests have sown order once again and we are grateful. Winter winds wait on the horizon and may well shake and shatter our composure but they will not break us. Sleet may hurl upon our windows but will not obscure our vision. Storms may well come hurtling across the ocean and batter our fragile lives, but there will be calm days too. There will be days of mellow fruitfulness when the autumn colours will enchant us. Crisp mornings will invite us to kick the rustling leaves and gather up the conkers as they burst from their prickly shells. Warm sunshine will filter through the chill and blue skies will cheer our hearts again. Rainbows will break through darkened skies and the laughter of children will make us smile once again. Sunsets will transform brooding skies into rays of glory and nature will sing her song of hope. Yes, the days will be shorter and darker, but the fire will be warmer and the friendships will be stronger. As poet Percy Bysshe Shelley once asked: ‘If winter comes, can spring be far behind?’