The following was published on Feb 17 in the PG Citizen in the Clergy Comment column. Two days after publication I fell and broke my knee, kicking off a season of rest and recovery. I definately need to take my own words to heart.
The changing of seasons is something that I often reflect
on. Some changes of season are fairly evident, others are subtler and often
missed until well after the fact. Our family recently began a new season when
we packed up the house we’d called home for over 5 years in Metro Vancouver
and drove here to Prince George. This season had a definite start as we arrived
here one evening in September, after a day of driving and though we had woken
in our “old house” we went to bed in our “new house” and a new adventure had
begun.
As the days progressed and we began to find our way around
our new home we noticed the change of summer giving way to fall and then fall
giving way to winter. We enjoyed watching the subtle changes, the colour of the
leaves, the earlier sunset and of course the green of the grass being blanketed
in the white of snow. At times it seemed each day brought something new.
Perhaps we took more notice of the changes this year because it was the first
time our first year in the North, but I am glad we were able to take time to
notice the changes.
Life is full of seasons, and every season will have its own
joys and sorrows, excitements and challenges. As it says in the opening verse
of Ecclesiastes chapter 3 “There is a time for everything, and a season for
every activity under the heavens” The words that follow are known to many as
the lyrics of that 1965 hit song by The Byrds “Turn! Turn! Turn!” and serve as
a great reminder that there will be a season for everything and we must, at
times, slow down and recognize the season we are in and that it will pass.
Just this week, as I was about to head out to run the
snow-blower over the driveway once again, I saw my father had posted pictures
of the first flower popping up in the family garden. I’ve also learned that
many folks here leave their snow shovels behind and flee to Mexico or other
warm places, to simply escape the chill of our northern winter. Now, it can be
tempting to hasten the move from one season of life, or to try and avoid it
completely. It can be hard to see others in a place we want to be whether
you’re single and wish to be married, childless longing for a child, a parent
longing for the empty nest, a student longing to graduate and get a job or
shoveling a driveway and longing for Mexico, but we must always ask ourselves,
what might God be trying to teach us in this season and what might I miss by
avoiding it?.
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