Each year Autumn arrives, reminding us that delight can be found in the simplest of moments. I find that even though I complain about sweeping up the leaves I still enjoy kicking piles of them when out for a walk. Maybe I am just a kid at heart! I also like changing from summer clothes to warm cuddly jumpers and scarves and hats. It’s like being wrapped in a warm embrace. It could of course, also be because they hide the parts of my body I don’t want to emphasise. Sitting beside a fire is lovely too. We may not need it lit all the time now but to cozy up to it on a cool evening is satisfying. We can start to eat more comfort food in autumn too. It’s not called comfort food for nothing is it. A cup of hot chocolate is a treat too, especially if sitting with your hands hugged around it. This all makes me think that we need to embrace each season as it arrives rather than lament the season that is ending. Summer has been extra lovely this year, and I am sure that you, as well as me, have benefited from the sun on our bodies even if the nights have been a bit hot sometimes, but autumn has lots of promises for us too. It is better to look forward in life rather than waste time looking back and regretting the passing of things or time. Farmers set us an example as I understand that when they plough the ground, they look forward not backwards. There a quite a few references in the bible relating to looking forward not backwards. In the book of Isaiah God tells his people to forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. But my favourite reference for not looking back comes in the book of Genesis when Lot’s wife looked back when she had been told not to and became a pillar of salt. That to me is an excellent reason for not looking back. We shouldn’t have too much salt should we.
This month’s book choice is a little bit different in that I haven’t read it. I have only read the review of it, but it sounded like it fitted the bill here. The book is How to Build a Boat by Elaine Feeney I will read it with you and I hope we will all enjoy it.
God Bless
Maureen Kendall