“For Everything There is a Season”

 

For everything there is a season 

     and a time for every matter under heaven:

a time to be born, and a time to die;

a time to plant, 

     and a time to pluck up what is planted;

a time to kill, and a time to heal;

a time to break down, and a time to build up;

a time to weep, and a time to laugh;

a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

a time to throw away stones, 

and a time to gather stones together;

a time to embrace, 

     and a time to refrain from embracing;

a time to seek, and a time to lose;

a time to keep, and a time to throw away;

a time to tear, and a time to sew;

a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

a time to love, and a time to hate;

a time for war and a time for peace.   (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8)

 

As Midwesterners, we’re pretty sure we know all there is to know about seasons.  After all, we experience just about every kind of season the environment has to offer!  Well, not hurricanes or tsunamis, but we have some summer days that are close to tropical, and some winters in which we wouldn’t be surprised to see a dogsled bounding down the street.  We don’t have to drive very far at all to watch the seasons of planting, growing, and harvesting of crops in the fields in the area, and the landscape of quiet, fallow winter fields is also familiar.

The writer of Ecclesiastes begins with a reminder that everything in creation has its season, and follows that with the seasons of human experience.  For most of us, there have been times of weeping, laughing, mourning, dancing, even loving and hating.  It’s simply the human condition.

Have you ever thought about adding a couple of “times” from your own life experiences?  As a congregation, we at St. Andrew rejoiced in a “time of welcome” five years ago, when Pastor Zach, Kristin, and Kate arrived to share in ministry with us.  Now we are experiencing a “time of farewell” as, along with the newest member of the family, Rosalie, they leave in response to a call to ministry in a new place.  At such occasions, gratitude for what’s been shared, regret that it won’t be happening any more, the goodbyes and the anticipation all mingle, and so do laughter and tears as well.  The teacher/writer of Ecclesiastes concludes the chapter quoted above, saying, “I know that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it.”  (14a)

We further know that God is with us wherever we are, however we are going about the ministries to which we are called, and we are sharing in this work at all times and in all places.

 

Making the most of all the seasons,

Your friend in Christ,

Mary Rogers