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I do not look forward to autumn (fall if you are from North America). While I love the colours of autumn I hate the days getting shorter, the clocks changing, the wind and the rain and the cold, and the fact that everything is dying. I enjoy spring more. It may still be wet and windy and cold in spring but everything is coming back to life. The days are getting longer and there is summer to look forward to. I am most definitely not a winter person.
The weather forecaster on breakfast television made a comment this week about being a ‘four seasons person.’ The news presenter responded that he quite liked Frankie Valli too! I saw that one coming, and it prompted me to go and find my The Very Best of Frankie Vallie and the Four Seasons CD. There are some interesting song titles on the CD. The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine Anymore is as close as I can get to the impending approach of winter. The truth is that the sun often shines in winter, just not for so long, and never climbing high enough in the sky to make that much of a difference to the temperature.
Our autumn temperatures are unseasonably warm this last week in October to the extent that we do not need our central heating. The reason it is warm is that the winds are coming from the south bringing a plume of warm air up across Europe from Africa.
Whether I like it not we need the seasons. Every one has its place in the order of creation. In fact the first mention of seasons in Scripture is in verse fourteen of Genesis 1:
Then God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years; and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth”; and it was so.
There are many other references to seasons in Scripture (and seasoning, which as any cook will tell you is also of great importance). This is one of my favourites:
The Lord upholds all who fall, and raises up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look expectantly to You, and You give them their food in due season. You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing. The Lord is righteous in all His ways, gracious in all His works. The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth. (Psalm 145:14-18 NKJV)
And just as there are seasons in nature, so there are also seasons in our lives. The sun doesn’t always shine. But even when the sun does not seem to shine on us we are still called to be salt (seasoning) and light to the world around us.
“You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavour? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.
“You are the light of the world – like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” (Matthew 5:13-16 NLT)
Ebs and Flows... 
Julie (aka Cookie) said:
David I know what you mean—I love Autumn, Fall, the changing colors of the leaves, the warm scents of apples and cinnamon, the nip in the air–but just as you, I hate this shortening of the day business–the changing of the clocks (I so wish we could leave well enough alone and stick to one time all year but I digress)
And yes, I dread the wet, yucky dreary days of our winters–and like you, our past couple of weeks here in late October have been warmer than I would like—more like summer with falling leaves—
So right you are my friend, the rhythm of our bodies, our lives, our (to steal a great line) ebbs and flows mirror that of Nature—and I suspect that the one true Creator of both relished in that similarity— love the pictures, especially that beautiful wooded pathway—hugs
David said:
Thank you Julie. I took that first photo a few years ago and it has remained one of my favourites. There is a country park mid-way between us and Hereford and that’s where it was taken. It is very beautiful place. The second photo was my attempt at capturing the eclipse back in March. The third photo was also taken in March when I was walking home from town. The new life pushing through the wet soil captured everything I love about springtime.
Oh and the YouTube is a Welsh folk singer who I particularly enjoy. She sings in English and Welsh (http://seraofficial.com).
Blessings, David
Anthony Baker said:
Ah, I love Fall! I love breaking out the flannel shirts, sitting around bonfires, the cool air, and fewer bugs 🙂 But I also love the change of seasons, for it would be no fun to live in just one all year long, no matter what the people in Hawaii and Key West say. However, the seasons of life are the changes I hate to see coming. That will never change with me.
David said:
Fortunately bugs are not too much of a problem here. Apart from the cluster flies that have once again returned to our attic!
nataliescarberry said:
Great post, David. I really love fall, even its shorter days, as they more or less force me to work less hours outside thus resting my ailing back. And then too I love wearing autumn and winter clothing and snuggling down into to soft warmness and sipping on cups hot chocolate. And I actually like the bare bones structure of the garden and the landscape. My mom hated it, but I’ve always liked it and the vistas it opens up that were obscured by spring and falls leafiness and floweriness. Hugs, Natalie 🙂 ❤
nataliescarberry said:
PS. I loved the music too! 🙂
David said:
Thank you Natalie. I do enjoy the colours of autumn, but it is spring I look forward to. Sera is one of my favourite singers. I enjoying listening to her in both English and Welsh. There are a few more of her songs on YouTube – if you search for Serasongs. Or here is a link to one of the Welsh ones I really like: https://youtu.be/90TgGtpmW7Y
snowgood said:
I’m not keen on driving home in the dark, but wouldn’t life be dull without the seasons? There’s something magical about the misty mornings, especially when there’s frost on the bare branches. Only a wonderful CREATOR God could have sussed out such a rich diversity of seasons.
David said:
We had dense fog this morning rather than mist. It has stayed foggy all day. Like you Stephen I have begun to hate driving in the dark. The joys of getting older!
Rellick said:
I’m with you David, I dread the thought of cold and snow as we get plenty here in Canada. But, as you pointed out in scripture we should praise what God has given us. Blessings
David said:
I have experienced Canadian winter weather a few times but only for a few days at a time so I do sympathise! I have to admit that praising God for the dense fog we have had for the last couple of days is a challenge!
gareth davies said:
Thanks David. Good blog. Also really like the music. Just bought the album from her website – and she’s Welsh! Bonus.
David said:
Thanks Gareth. All Sera’s albums are very good. Some of the older ones were released as Sarah Louise. I think most are on iTunes too, but I believe that it is better financially for artists like Sera if purchases are made direct. And I guess more encouraging.