Thanksgiving: A Moment to Reflect on Life

The last few weeks leading up to this thanksgiving weekend has been arguably some of the best weather we've seen lately here in Quebec. The traffic and visitors coming from Montreal to Lac Brome since the Brome Fair and the Duck Festival has been heavy and throughout this week-end the corner stop at Knowlton Road and Lakeside has been a a steady ballet of pedestrians and cars passing through the village center. The lovely weather put everyone in a good mood and despite the slow pace of traffic through downtown was almost welcome as people shopped and chatted and enjoyed the brilliant colors.

When we are blessed with another long weekend and warm temperatures with bright sunshine we can be extra contented. The colors on the leaves are at their best and the streets of Knowlton were literally packed with visitors enjoying what will likely be the nicest long week-end of the year.

The animal creatures of the area also enjoyed the mild weather and everywhere you looked you could see happy horses, playful dogs and cats and many other of our barnyard friends showing signs of joy to the world.

Beautiful Autumn days remind us of the precious changes that occur in life in that they signify the end of our summer which is somewhat like the end of youth. There is a poignant flavor, a bitter sweet spice, in such fall days as we are forced to accept the coming winter yet want to spend as much time holding on to the warmth of the end of summer. The days are getting shorter and the nights are colder so when we have bright sunshine and mild temperatures like we've had this weekend it is understandable that we want to be outside and share the time together in what seems like a ritual celebration of the lust for life.

One of the lessons of this time of year is to make the most of every moment and seek out and appreciate the beauty in the world around us and in each and every one of us.

Thanksgiving is a time when we gather to celebrate with family and friends and give thanks for all that we have. We are fortunate here in the Eastern Townships that we live in a healthy and safe environment. It allows us to foster a greater feeling of spiritual connection to the world and to see our children grow up in warm and friendly communities. Such warm October days allow us to pause and reflect on the beauty of the natural world around us and to be thankful for everything we've got.


Father we thank thee for this food
for health, strength, and all
things good. May others all these blessings
share, and hearts be grateful
everywhere.
I thank you God for most this amazing day;
for the leaping greenly spirits of trees and a blue true dream of sky;
and for everything which is infinite which is yet.
- E. E. Cummings


Thanksgiving is a time to count our blessings and look to inspiration in the histories of older generations who have the wisdom of the years to share and enlighten us. Nothing can stir the soul more than poetry and this poem is by Robert Frost. Robert Frost (1874-1963) was one of the finest of rural New England's 20th century pastoral poets.








Gathering Leaves
by Robert Frost

Spades take up leaves
No better than spoons,
And bags full of leaves
Are light as balloons.

I make a great noise
Of rustling all day
Like rabbit and deer
Running away.

But the mountains I raise
Elude my embrace,
Flowing over my arms
And into my face.

I may load and unload
Again and again
Till I fill the whole shed,
And what have I then?

Next to nothing for weight,
And since they grew duller
From contact with earth,
Next to nothing for color.

Next to nothing for use.
But a crop is a crop,
And who's to say where
The harvest shall stop?