Posted on: 27th September 2023

The idea of harvest can seem remote in the middle of a city, where even the seasons are indistinct. A cold wet day in the middle of October can look pretty much like a cold wet day
in the middle of March. But in any case, harvest festivals aren’t just about giving thanks for the traditional things, lovely though purple-headed mountains are. 

If ever we needed a reminder of this, Eric Idle provided it:
All things dull and ugly,
All creatures short and squat,
All things rude and nasty,
The Lord God made the lot.

This can lead us to get lost in questions about the mechanism of Creation, and the meaning of Genesis; which is to miss the point. The point - as with almost everything - is about 
thankful. However we read the Scriptures, we are told therein to give thanks for everything (1Thess.5:18). Everything. Even the bad stuff. Maybe even especially the bad stuff.
Because the dark side cannot create, only corrupt. So wherever we encounter evil, we can be sure that it is distorted goodness. And be thankful to our most loving God, in whom
everything works for good. 

And if we don’t feel thankful? Well, it’s a lie that we need to feel what we pray. Quite the opposite. Stand before God, acknowledge that you hate your neighbours, and then be
thankful for them. Just saying the words can be enough to break down a whole dam of anger and resentment. Grace works. Intention matters.

So. May you be blessed this harvest in giving thanks. For everything.
 

Roger Quick