Chris McDonnell, UK
christymac733@gmail.com

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November 21, 2018

Leaves that were green turn to brown

We are well into the Autumn Season that in the US, for good reason, is called the Fall. In the words of Paul Simon's song "And the leaves that are green turn to brown, and they wither with the wind, and they crumble in your hand"

It is a time of change, with the heat of Summer days a memory as the cycle of Seasons takes its natural course, one week after another.

Newman wrote about it with these words

"… after a most glorious Summer, there was a week of pouring rain, and then it was fine again and the sky as radiant as the week before. But the season had changed, the ground had become thoroughly chilled, and never recovered itself. Autumn had unequivocally set in, and the week of wet divided the two seasons, as by a river. And so I think I have now passed into my Autumn".

He used the analogy of Seasonal change to reflect on his own life and its progress. The chill in the air, the damp in the ground and rivers to be crossed. We too easily forget the high personal price that he paid when he invited Dominic Barberi to his room at Littlemore that wet October night in 1845. His decision to be received into the Church came at the high cost of lost personal relationships. Did he have any idea of the journey that lay ahead of him, the load he would have to bear?

It was only late in his life that his Red Hat acknowledged in a small way the immensity of the man's spiritual achievement.

A few days ago I walked the canal bank towpath near my home. It was early afternoon and the sun was already dipping low as it does on these November days. The path was strewn with leaves, some freshly fallen, bright and clean, others already muddy and sodden after days on the ground. The waters of the canal were still and silent until I reached the overflow sluice where excess water spilled into a soak-away stream. The noise of the running water broke across the afternoon air. I paused for a while before turning for home.

This November has been solemn and reflective as world-wide the centenary of Armistice in 1918 has been marked by national leaders and the people of nations. Many images remain. One that I found most moving was of the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel standing next to the President of France, their arms linked, her eyes closed, her head resting on his shoulder, the poignancy of forgiveness. The words of Des Wilson come to mind - "Those who are best at forgiving are those who do not forget". It seemed ironic that, at the same time, the UK is negotiating its way out of the European Community that has contributed to stability and peace on the Continent for so many years. The political leaders walked a rain-drenched Champs Elysees, umbrellas aloft, their joint witness marred only by the absence of a US president. He cannot rise to the challenge of leadership, seeing only the narrow political spectrum of 'me' rather than 'we'.

Francis has given us a leadership model that is both generous and honest. In his person the Holy Spirit has given a gift to the Church that we should follow with gratitude.

These few lines were written after President Trump's failure to visit the war graves in the American cemetery.

Crow sheltered

from falling rain

stayed sullen and silent,

hovering in a soundless sulk.

Those who in futile song

fluttered to the rain-drenched earth

had no choice of weather

told to fly whatever the circumstance

broken winged and blasted breast

they fell in consequence.

Crow called the song and failed.

Let others cry for the wood

where Christ was nailed.

Times of challenge bring forth courage and fortitude, times when individuals act in a manner that goes beyond expectation. It is then, by their example, that we are offered a standard to live by, a pattern to follow. It might be inspirational words that urge us to action or the silent testament of dignified behaviour that provides a beacon to follow. Either way, we recognise it when we experience it, when the example of others encourages our own action and there is a significant light to follow.

So walking these November days we are reminded of the glorious Summer that we have experienced. Now our feet kick through the piles of fallen Autumn leaves and soon it will be Winter.

It was a day in late November, the 22nd, in 1963 when a former US President lost his life through gunfire in a motorcade through Dallas, a salutary reminder of the uncertainty of our allotted life span and the consequences of Seasonal change.

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