A Change of Season – A Reason for Thanksgiving

I love the summer, and I dread its passing.  I try to ignore the signs, but there are too many to ignore.  There are natural witnesses which declare warm, longer day’s passing.  The appearance of one of my favorite flowers, dahlias, announces the close of summer and the coming of autumn.  The appearance of another, smaller bloom, cyclomen, also bears this news of passing and change.  So, all is sealed and set in place.  I cannot stop the orbit of earth around the sun.

During this long summer of 2015, many in the Puget Sound region of Washington state have complained about its heat and dryness.  I comment in reply, “You’d better not complain, November’s on its way!”

I love summer.  I mourn its passing.  The threat of darker, raining days gives me no joy.  But, they should.  I know better.  Each day of each season has its beauty.

The Psalmist informs me:  “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is in me bless his holy name (Psalm 103:1, LXX 102:1).”  Even in the change of seasons, this is true.  Even in the dark, drizzling days that are ahead, this is true.  In all of this I am to bless the Lord who created the earth in such a wonderful way that the tilt of our planet’s axis give us our seasons.

I also say to “low level grumblers” from time to time, “each day has its own beauty, we just need to find it.”

So, I have to find the beauty in each day of late fall and winter.  It is there.  It is always there.  I must exercise the will to see it.  I must open my eyes.  Goodness and beauty are all around me – and you.

Beyond this discussion of the seasons, I am to see this:  In every person and situation there is beauty.  There is always reason to bless, and reason to give thanks.  There is always reason to rejoice, reason to pray for, and ask God’s blessing for each and every person and situation (no matter how irritating, rude, gloomy, dreary, and wet).

Again, written for me and you, we have this from St. Paul:  “Rejoice always.  Pray constantly.  Give thanks in all things, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thes 5: 16 – 18).”

In Christ,
Fr. Irenaeus