Dear Friends

Louis Leipoldt, a South African poet and medical doctor, will always be remembered for his beautiful poem, “Oktobermaand.” An anonymous translator freely translated one of the verses to English:

“It’s the month of October!
Seems folk here celebrate forever
in a month as heavenly as October!
Who can wish for more than flowers, as bright as day and night?
Who expects better, lovelier, glorious?
Who expects better, lovelier, glorious?
What care I for winter?
Why talk now of May?
What does it matter if dark days re-appear?
I’m now in October, loveliest, loveliest month of all
Each day so clear, so splendid every evening!”

Whilst writing this Pastoral Note another icy cold front, with snow on the mountains, is forecast. But, when October arrives one can put away the winter blankets and open the windows. It’s time for a good spring clean!
Sometimes that is what we need in our lives: spiritual renewal. The one thing we can be sure of is that the faithfulness of the Lord will never fail us. It is the will of God that we live lives that bring forth love – “each day so clear, so splendid every evening.”