It seems that autumn has suddenly appeared from nowhere to take us all by surprise over these last two weeks.

From a relatively mild early October with some glimmers of late summer, we seem to have moved firmly into all the smells and sights that tells us it is most definitely autumn.

In many schools, around this time there will be a focus on this colourful season with assemblies, poems and artwork linked to the season.

Indeed, there are a good number of songs to be sung in primary schools all about autumn. One famous one sung for many years and still sung today is ‘Autumn Days’.

Autumn days when the grass is jewelled And the silk inside a chestnut shell.

Jet planes meeting in the air to be refuelled.

All these thing I love so well So I mustn’t forget No, I mustn’t forget To say a great big thank you I mustn’t forget.

Just reading the words makes me smile, with the tune automatically playing through my head, and I am sure many people reading this will have some memories tied to this song.

The lyrics are beautifully written with a clear picture of autumn painted in your mind as you sing. But despite all this, this song that is loved by many has something missing and leaves you with a question rather than an answer.

It describes to the wonder of our world and leaves us with a chorus that says we mustn’t forget to say thank you. All very good, but the song doesn’t indicate to whom or what we should give thanks.

This question is one that has been posed to many over the centuries as the human race attempts to make sense of the complexity of nature and humanity and is a good question to reflect on.

In our church schools, we give many opportunities for children to reflect on questions like this. To reflect and draw our own conclusions is part of us developing a deeper spirituality and part of us making sense of our lives.

Of course, church schools will want to encourage children to explore the question of God and a place for God in their lives, with an underlying hope that each person will come to know that there is a loving God who is personal and wants to engage in a relationship with humanity.

Stephen Whittaker Director of Education Blackburn Diocese