For Everything There Is A Season

The recent General Board meetings used this phrase from Ecclesiastes 3:1 as its theme. The first eight verses of this chapter remind us of the seasons of life: birth and death, planting and harvesting, killing and healing, breaking down and building up, weeping and laughing, and the list continues. "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven."

As one reads through the scriptures, it seems that time is measured more by the seasons of life than in hours, days, months and years. We read of birth narratives and creation accounts but there is no reference to anyone's "birthdate" and no recorded date for the creation story. We read of Jesus' crucifixion but there is no date, month, year attached. And yet within the Christian Church we celebrate the "seasons of life" during Advent and Christmas, Lent and Easter.

Meanwhile we live in a modern world with watches, clocks and calendars. We celebrate birthdays and anniversaries. We observe Thanksgiving Day, New Year's Day, and Christmas Day. Our seasons are identified as Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter. Or, sometimes they are known as baseball, football, and basketball seasons.

Rather than for everything there is a season, our culture reminds us that there is a season for everything. Rather than holding to a time for every matter, we prefer to create time. Most of our country has "changed time" recently - rolling their clocks back one hour; but come spring we will move them ahead an hour. We call it daylight savings time and it is our human way to create an extra hour of daylight for the events we enjoy. [Except in Indiana where we wouldn't consider messing with God's time!]

So what time is it where you live? What season of life is it for you? Outside it feels like autumn, with falling leaves and cooler temperatures. It is the season of harvest with tractors and combines in the fields. Within the church it is the season of stewardship as we re-examine our blessings and commit ourselves to share financially in the ministry of the church. For families we are approaching Thanksgiving Day when we gather as families to give thanks to God for each other. And in all times and seasons, we celebrate that this is God's time and God's season!

Herman