By now I am sure that you are have observed that summer is giving way to autumn. Trees are beginning to reflect nature’s brush strokes as green leaves are beginning to show hints of yellow, orange and red. Summer flowers have given notice that they are nearing the end of their life cycle. Butterflies and yellow finches have begun their migration to warmer climates. Farmers are beginning to harvest their crops and soon the fields will be covered with only the spent stubble of the vibrant corn and bean plants that produced beautiful fields of green in varying hues.
Like it or not autumn will give way to winter and eventually winter will give way to spring and the resurrection of living things once more. Each season has its own special moments. If one of the four seasons isn’t your particular favorite it will eventually pass and hopefully the season that follows will be more to your liking. Keep in mind that each season offers its own unique and beautiful “Kodak” moments if we are open to looking for them.
Such is the same for our own life here on earth. The third chapter of the Old Testament book Ecclesiastes begins with these words, “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:” NRSV our earthly lives are filled with seasons, periods of time that provide particular unique experiences.
Some of these seasons may be of different lengths, but each one has something positive to offer similar to the four seasons of our calendar. Unfortunately, each season has negatives such as mosquitoes and “no-see-um bugs” in the case of our present autumn season. It is up to us to focus on the positive and endure the negative aspects of the season.
With God’s help we can strike a balance between the positive and negative aspects of the seasons of our life. A few nights ago I saw a unique thing. A friend of mine hooked two table forks together at its tines and then using a toothpick balanced the forks on the edge of a drinking glass causing the forks to be suspended in mid air, not touching the glass in any way. Seeing that demonstration of physics caused me to realize that our lives are like those forks. One representing the good things the other representing the bad things found in our particular season of life. The important thing to remember is that as the toothpick balances those forks Jesus Christ balances the good and bad incidents in our lives and providing security and peace of mind as we walk our earthly journey.
He has promised that He will always be with us and in Psalms we are told He knows our every need before we realize there is one. Embracing the positive aspects (blessings) of each of the seasons of our life will help us to be happy and better able to endure and deal with the negative aspects that will be there. Many have a hard time dealing with change. Many fear change and desire for the “good ole days” to be the constant in their lives forever. Folks, that isn’t going to happen. However, with help from our heavenly Father, we can make the required changes in our life and go on to enjoy the new season that is before us.
Let us strive to embrace and cherish the seasons of our lives. May we always sense God’s presence as He walks besides us or as He carries us along the way as we play an active role in our personal season of life.
God’s Blessings to you all, Pastor Walt