‘ Depends which one you mean ’, they said and walked away to get the bus .
My spirits lifted and we walked all around Castlemilk and Kings Park chatting to lots of people . On the drive home I knew that if Gregor and you lot wanted me , I wanted you .
So like this foggy morning today , a year ago I could not see beyond a certain view point , I had no clue what lay ahead and I was frightened , but there was also knowledge that things would clear and I would see a bit further . So we stepped out in faith .
One year on and we are settled , there is the excitement of planning for the winter festivals with your help , and the hope of St Oswald ’ s continuing to be a happy thriving family church .
An Autumn reflection
Autumn is the time when days become shorter and the darkness of the night comes earlier . This is a good season to review the light and dark within ourselves . All too often we can fear the dark and love only the light ; but we can practice seeing how the dark can become less of an enemy to hide from and more a place to be nurtured in , there can be a slow and steady growth of our relationship with God during the stillness of the long nights ; if we take time to let Him gently hold and guide our souls .
The light always comes through , even if it is a tiny spark , and it is a welcomed part of our existence just as the spring is welcomed after a long winter . However without the autumn and winter our beautiful Britain would not sustain its green beauty , the trees would wither , the crops would not germinate and the animals would have no rest .
There would be no seasons and like so many countries without measured seasonal changes , we could suffer drought and flood and disease on massive scales .
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It is the same thing within ourselves , if we don ’ t learn to appreciate and give thanks for the darker seasons in our lives instead of living depressed or in fear , ( hard to do sometimes I know ), we can miss the beginning of lighter times coming back .
Sometimes there is no remedy for a situation in life but to begin in absolute darkness , but with faith we understand that there is hope , God shows us in the west that after autumn there is winter , but after winter there is spring and then summer ; each season has its own beauty and purpose , and each season of our lives also brings beauty and purpose when we take time to understand and appreciate it .