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Each month the Glen Park Gospel Church produce a one page newsletter called the Green Leaf. It's available from the chapel each Sunday. Anything that may be of mild interest will be published here.

Autumn’s Glorious Days

Much of our traditional English literature turns our world up-side-down. Mad March winds and April showers mean little here. Long golden days lay before us; days of relaxation and refreshment after a long thirsty summer; days that turn work into pleasure; but days that have a habit of slipping by until that balmy breeze turns unexpectedly to a cruel chilly, southerly and the golden opportunity is lost.

“The narcissus, the rose, and the chrysanthemum - these are the natural emblems of our human life! Bright youth and no cloud to dim the sky - the narcissus. Maturity and power -the rose. And then through the more sober and perhaps sadder period of later life, when sometimes a strong faith is needed to make us realise that the gathering clouds still have a silver lining. And that there remains behind them a sun which may yet shine for us - our floral help and cultivator - the chrysanthemum.” C E Shea’s* words are right-side-up even for us. They tell the truth for us too.

In the garden we are enjoying the second and final display of roses for this cycle and the chrysanthemums are coming into bud. We are not so foolish as to miss the meaning of God’s metaphor. The course of life is but a season. “A generation goes and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever” said the philosopher. Within the continuity of God’s eternity our lives are very short.

This season is a season to enjoy, but it is also a season given to us to bring summer to a fitting close. There is fruit to bring in and store. There is the rampant growth to prune. Unsightly weeds must be removed. Many abandoned tasks to be finished. We are not so foolish as to miss the meaning of God’s metaphor. The golden days are long and balmy. But sometimes they are cut short and there is hardly any golden autumn at all. Winter is upon us.

A search for CE Shea’s work source has not been successful.

Joan Smith writes:
I have just found my diary for 1948 just before I started my nursing training at the Royal Melbourne Hospital. This is what I wrote on May 28th:

"The clouds hang heavy round my way;
I cannot see.
 But through the darkness I believe
God leadeth me.
'Tis sweet to keep my hand in His
While all is dim;
 To close my weary aching eyes
And follow Him.
 To my blind eyes He may reveal
No light at all;
 But while I lean on His strong arm,
I cannot fall."

Inspired by the song 'He Leadeth me, O blessed thought.'

For a list of this month's readings, click on the above link for Quick Verse

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