I love autumn. It brings back childhood memories of walks in the park and kicking through leaves, of driving under a long corridor of brilliantly coloured leaves in the Borders of Scotland, and as a northern hemisphere student, of burrowing in at the start of the academic year to read and think and learn.
In Upper Hutt where I live, the deciduous trees are changing colour and dropping their leaves. The Canadian Maple in my garden is lit up like a torch, almost blinding me when I opened the curtains on an otherwise grey day.
There’s a sadness, but a richness and beauty too about this time of year, an appreciation for what has been and what has blessed us, and a connecting with the deeper parts of ourselves.
“We give thanks for the harvest of the heart’s work;
seeds of faith planted with faith;
love nurtured by love;
courage strengthened by courage.
We give thanks for the fruits of the struggling soul,
the bitter and the sweet;
for that which has grown in adversity
and for that which has flourished in warmth and grace;
for the radiance of the spirit in autumn
and for that which must fade and die.
We are blessed and give thanks. Amen!”
–Michael Leunig, The Prayer Tree
I hope you can find some time this weekend to kick through some leaves, inhale the smells of autumn and snuggle up with a good book,
Fiona
To view the full e-news click here: https://mailchi.mp/2580a3598f03/this-weeks-newsletter-from-st-andrews-on-the-terrace-4752954
