What Season Is It? Ecclesiastes 3, Proverbs 18

May the mumbling commence!

There is a time for every season.  It is a hard reality.  It is the reality that the writer of Ecclesiastes spoke about so long ago in chapter three.  Read the passage below:

To everything there is a season,

A time for every purpose under heaven: 

A time to be born,

And a time to die;

A time to plant,

And a time to pluck 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 cast away stones,

And a time to gather stones;

A time to embrace,

And a time to refrain from embracing; 

A time to gain,

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 of war,

And a time of peace. (Verses 1-8)

It is a sobering thought that is hammered forth in the Beatles song “Turn, Turn, Turn”.  In that song, there is a phrase that sticks with most people who know the song.  It goes something like this: “A time for peace – I swear it’s not too late”.  

So, where do you find yourself this Lenten season?  Are you celebrating new life?  Good enjoy it while it lasts – for a season.  Are you mourning loss and death?  Weep with the promise that this, too, is only for a season. 

As a nation, I believe the US is ready for a time of healing and building up.  It is a time for love and peace after so many years in war and after so many tragedies within our borders.  I hope it is not too late for these things to occur.  If it is too late, perhaps we are standing on the threshold of yet another global empire crashing down around our feet.

Let us not isolate ourselves from one another.  Let’s instead pull together to reach the wisest judgment that we possibly can.  Let us kneel together at the feet of Jesus.  Let’s welcome the Holy Spirit into our midst to guide us in anticipating the future so that we may follow Jesus rightly.  Read from Proverbs chapter eighteen:

A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire;

He rages against all wise judgment. (Verse 1)

What season are we in?  Let us come together and discern – for the discerning will be much the wiser when we all come to the foot of the throne of God. 

Enough mumbling for now… 

Peace Out