A Season for Every Purpose Under Heaven

If someone were to ask, “Can you name the four seasons?” many of us would probably respond, “Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter.” However, fans of singer-songwriters Simon & Garfunkel in the 1960s might answer, “Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme,” recalling their hit tune by the same name.

 

And for those who loved music predating the folk-rock duo by a few years, their answer might be, “Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio, Tommy DeVito and Nick Massi” – the original members of the singing group, The Four Seasons, with hit songs like “Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry” and “Walk Like a Man.” 

 

Spring, summer, autumn and winter are just
some of the seasons we encounter in life.

Of course, there are lots of other seasons, including: football, baseball and basketball; hunting and fishing; and the holiday season, with Halloween already past and Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s looming ahead.

We encounter many different seasons over our lifetimes. At the moment, we’re in the midst of autumn (or fall, if you prefer). The leaves started changing colors weeks ago and are now tumbling to the ground, forcing many of us to get our rakes and leaf blowers out of mothballs. But every one of us is in a different season of life, ranging from infancy and toddlerhood to the teen years and adulthood. 

 

Even for adults, we’re not locked into one season. There are the early years of finding a job, getting married, having kids, becoming established in a career, then preparing for and entering retirement, and finally, adjusting to the joys and challenges life as a senior citizen.

 

This reminds me of another tune from the ‘60s, “Turn! Turn! Turn!,” composed by Bob Seeger and popularized by The Byrds. You might recall its recurring refrain, “To everything turn, turn, turn, there is a season turn, turn, turn, and a time for every purpose under heaven.” 

 

Interestingly, Seeger acknowledged he wrote only a handful of words in the song: “turn, turn, turn,” and “a time for peace, I swear it’s not too late.” Written during the height of the Vietnam war, with tragic reports daily of soldiers killed in battle, it reflected a desperate cry for peace to be restored.

 

The rest of the song, amazingly enough, was taken directly from Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, which reads:

“To everything there is a season 
And a time to every purpose under heaven:

A time to be born, a time to die;
A time to plant, and a time to reap;
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 of love, and a time of hate;
A time of war, and a time of peace.”

Seeger rearranged some of the words to fit the rhythm and rhyme of his song, but as the passage from the Bible’s wisdom literature states, “to everything there is a season – and a time for every purpose under heaven.” It’s just as relevant today as when King Solomon wrote it thousands of years ago. Beginning each new day, it would be helpful to consider exactly what season of life we happen to be in and what it might take to fulfill its “purpose under heaven.”

 

The interesting thing is, as we encounter each new “season,” we never quite know what to expect. You’d think that after navigating the various stages of our younger years we’d be able to relax and think, “Ah, now I’ve got it made.” But as I have learned and continue to learn, each new stage brings adventures and conundrums of its own. Reminds me of the fellow who was asked by his doctor, “How are you doing?” He replied, “I don’t know – I’ve never been this old before.”

 

This brings to mind another passage, Ephesians 5:15-16, which admonishes us to, “Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.” This isn’t saying a 24-hour day in itself is evil, but once it’s gone it can’t be recaptured. So, we should try to make the best of it.

 

Some days – and seasons – seem like a breeze, no sweat. Others pose adversities we could never have imagined. But the Scriptures teach that God can use every season of life, whether it’s easy or difficult, to work in us as well as through us for His eternal purposes and our ultimate good.

A New Day: The Gift That Keeps on Giving

Did you know you’ve received a gift today? No, I haven’t been spying on what might be on your front porch. “Then what gift is that?” you ask. It’s a gift of a new day; the gift of life. Another opportunity to use your God-given talents, abilities, experiences and passions in an endless variety of ways, not only for your own enjoyment and satisfaction, but also for the benefit of others.

 

It’s easy to overlook this “gift.” We go to bed each night, often with a full slate of activities planned for the following day. We make plans for the next week, next month, even months or years in advance. All with the assumption that tomorrow, the day after, and the day after that will automatically come rolling along without interruption.

And yet, we know down deep that the next minute is not guaranteed, much less the next hour, day, week or month. I’m not intending to seem morbid or fatalistic, but simply to encourage a great appreciation of each moment that we have. Because the fact is, once a moment passes, there’s no way of retrieving it.

 

Having had several significant health episodes in my life, I’ve gained a much greater understanding of what a gift each new day is. I still remember the many visits I made as a cardiac volunteer, stopping at the rooms of patients who had just undergone open-heart surgery, as I had years earlier. Many of them also had a new or renewed grasp of the value of each day, agreeing that it indeed was a gift of great worth. Especially after you’ve practically been at death’s doorstep.

 

I’m often reminded of Ephesians 5:16, which talks about “redeeming the time” or “making the most of the opportunity, because the days are evil.” This is not to say that time itself is bad or evil, but that it passes quickly, and there’s no “lost and found” for missed opportunities. As the verses that precede and follow observe, “Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise…. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.”

 

Like many people, I wrestle with the temptation to squander time, to act nonchalantly about my use of it, as if I’ve got all the time in the world. Sometimes I succumb to that temptation, watching too much TV or surfing the Internet, or failing to recognize how a seemingly random personal encounter could be a divine appointment. 

 

While I know there’s no point in putting myself on a perpetual guilt trip for not maximizing every single minute, I try to be more aware of circumstances so I can truly “make the most of the opportunity.”

 

In terms of serving as representatives of Jesus Christ in a world that seems to have little interest in Him, another passage – also written by the apostle Paul – conveys similar sentiments: “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone” (Colossians 4:5-6).

 

There’s a lot packed into these two verses. We’re to use wisdom whenever we interact with people outside the faith. We should recognize opportunities for what they are. Rather than being argumentative or dogmatic, we should be gracious in conversing with them. And as we pray about what to say, our words should be “salty” in the sense that they might create a spiritual thirst and at the same time, not leave our hearers with a bad taste in their mouth.

Regardless of whether you’re reading this early in the morning, at midday or toward the conclusion of the day, it would be good to recognize the gift of today, and also the Giver. As Psalm 118:24 reminds us, “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” 

Living for the Moment – Or Living in the Moment?

Ready or not, we’re officially immersed into the Christmas season. Retail stores, from Cracker Barrel to Hobby Lobby, have unveiled their holiday finest, 2019 edition: Trees brightly adorned. Snowy tabletop baubles and red-and-green finery in vast array. Familiar carols serenading us as we stroll through festively decorated malls. TV commercials bombarding us with “must haves” for our very special somebodies.

With these constant reminders, many of us already are anticipating magical moments. I know the Hallmark Channels are – around Christmastime, with them everything’s “magical.” Young ones envision Christmas morning, awakening to a tree surrounded by brightly wrapped gifts containing wonders soon to be revealed. Enticing aromas wafting from the kitchen, previewing a scrumptious dinner culminating with pies and other sweet delicacies. Over the next weeks the words, “I can’t wait!” will be uttered countless times.

Lots of people live for these moments. Of course, moments aren’t limited to Christmas or other holidays. We can live for the moment that we’ll depart for a long-awaited vacation. Brides – and grooms – live for the moment they arrive at the wedding site, exchange “I do’s,” and begin a journey together as husband and wife. A professional person might live for the moment when he or she earns the coveted title of “partner,” the reward for excellence, hard work and dedication to the firm.

The thing about moments, however, is that we await them for so long, then so quickly they’re gone. Here today – gone today. Then we’re left to consider what our next “moment” should be. 

Recently I heard someone suggest an alternative: Instead of living for the moment, why not try living in the moment?

Many of us tend to be future-oriented, always planning and preparing for something in the weeks or months ahead. There’s nothing wrong with that. It’s fun to embrace upcoming activities and events with expectancy. But there’s a danger of becoming so preoccupied by days yet to come that we neglect to recognize opportunities of the day at hand.

In the Bible we read a lot about the future. It speaks about eternity, and life after death. Jesus said much about His return, His “second coming.” But the Scriptures also talk about the here and now, not becoming so future-focused that we become presently impoverished. 

For instance, Ephesians 5:16 warns about, “Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” Or as a different translation phrases it, “making the most of your time.” In His most celebrated public message, the so-called “Sermon on the Mount,” Jesus spoke about the dangers of going about our daily lives fearful of what might or might not occur in the future: “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:34).

One aspect of this could be concentrating so much on what lies over the horizon that we find ourselves stumbling over good things right in front of us. An example was when Jesus spent time in the home of sisters Mary and Martha. Apparently a consummate hostess, Martha was preparing the dinner she would serve. Her sister, however, “sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said.”

The passage continues, “Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, ‘Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!’ ‘Martha, Martha,’ the Lord answered, ‘you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed – or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:38-41).

Jesus wasn’t rebuking Martha for her kindness in cooking a hearty meal, but was simply showing her that while she had been living for the moment, Mary realized the value of living in the moment. After all, how often did Jesus stop by one’s house for a personal visit?

Pondering the comparison between living in the moment vs. living for the moment, I think of a man I heard of, boasting about the significant estate he was amassing, intending to leave it all for charitable purposes upon his death. Although such intentions are laudable, I couldn’t help thinking about how much good his financial and material resources could accomplish for people right now, rather than delaying such assistance for years later. 

Proverbs 3:27-28 seems to address this when it admonishes, “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act. Do not say to your neighbor, ‘Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you’ – when you already have it with you.”

Without question, it’s fun living part of the time for special moments – a favorite holiday, birthday or anniversary, or the vacation you’ve always dreamed about. But what about this moment? Right now? It could be holding some of the best memories of all.

Are You Ready to Take the ‘Leap’?

What will you do with your extra day?

Have you ever grumbled, “I could get so much more done if only I had more time”? Well, congratulations! Thanks to the calendar and the cosmological calculations of science, we’ve been granted an additional 24 hours this year.

It’s not often we get to do something on the 29^th day of February. It’s possible only once every four years. So what should we do with this rare “opportunity”? How should we use an additional day we’ve been afforded?

We have plenty of options. We could sleep late, even hibernate if it happens to be a snowy day. Nothing like catching up on our sleep, right? We could take a vacation day, but since the 29^th falls on a Monday this year, that’s not likely without the boss’s approval. Maybe we could take part of the day to assess how we’re progressing on our New Year’s resolutions or goals. Still early enough in the year to make course corrections if needed.

How we use day 366 this year is really a matter of personal choice, but if we believe what Psalm 118:24 declares, we’re assured, “This is the day which the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Although we tend to take for granted each morning when we awaken, in reality every day is a gift. No guarantees. So this year God has provided us with one additional gift.

It would be easy to treat this one extra day in business-as-usual fashion. Unless, of course, you’re among the less than three percent of people who were actually born on Feb. 29, in which case you get to celebrate your bonafide birthday for the first time in four years. Most of us, however, might regard the day that causes this year to “leap” with a casual shrug. That probably would be unfortunate.

While we’re not instructed to become enslaved to our clocks and calendars, the Bible reminds us we’re as much stewards of our time as we are of our money, our talents and material resources. Ephesians 5:16 speaks of “making the most of your time, because the days are evil.” That’s not to say there’s anything intrinsically wrong with any particular day, but what we do with the time – or don’t do with it – will determine whether it’s been a good day or not.

We could simply view Feb. 29 as a day that forestalls the arrival of March 1 by 24 hours. Or we could treat it as truly a special day, one for doing something we’ve been intending to do for too long: making a phone call we should have made a while ago; reaching out to someone we’ve neglected for too long; turning off the TV and picking up that great book we never seem to get around to reading; or tackling a task or project that’s fallen victim to our procrastinations.

Since every fourth year we observe as “leap year,” maybe this would be the perfect time to take the leap and use this plus-one day in a very special, even unusual way. Who knows? Maybe by “redeeming the time,” as the venerated King James Version translates it, we’ll be able to look back and realize, “You know, that was a very, very good day!”

The Time of Your Life

We sometimes hear people exclaim, “I’m having the time of my life!” I’ve probably said that myself a time or two, but what does it really mean?

Figuratively it refers to having much enjoyment, maybe more than we can ever remember. But when have you heard someone say, “I’m not having the time of my life”? In reality, like it or not, “the time of our life” is now, this very moment. What happened even one second ago is already locked into the past, and we can’t live in the future – until it arrives in the present, at which time it ceases to be the future, strangely enough.

Not to get too philosophical, but time is important to all of us. And as we get older, we learn to value time even more since there’s more of it behind us and less of it ahead of us in this life. When we were children, time seemed to move at a snail’s pace, especially when awaiting a special event, like summer vacation or Christmas. Now it seems to pass at racetrack speed.

In the newspaper business, I found time often defined by deadlines: getting articles written, photos taken and pages designed on time for going to press. Time literally was money, with presses idling and well-paid pressmen poised to print the publication. So we all felt the pressure of time.

When I moved into the business world I was introduced to “time management,” which is a misnomer. We can’t manage time any more than we can manage the wind. Unlike saving money or storing food for a future emergency, time can’t be set aside for later consumption. Time comes and goes with relentless precision, one second, one minute, one hour at a time.

The Bible says there is a time for
everything.  Our challenge is to know
which time is right.

Although we can’t control or slow time’s passage, we can determine how our time is utilized. We can set priorities, determining which things must be done and distinguishing those from other things that might be nice to do, but aren’t essential. As Oswald Chambers would say, conceding “good is the enemy of the best.” Or distinguishing the important from the tyrannical urgent.

In our leisure hours we can read thought-provoking books, play challenging games, and engage in stimulating conversations. Or we can fritter away minutes and hours watching meaningless TV programming or listen to continual radio talk show chatter, our minds becoming sponges for media clutter. We can pursue a productive hobby, participate in regular exercise, and nurture our spiritual life. Or we can squander time by eating and drinking more than we need, sleeping more than we should, spending more than we ought, and procrastinating like champions.

We also can “manage time” by cherishing opportunities we have with loved ones, recognizing those can’t be reclaimed at some later date. I suspect when beloved friends and family members pass away, a part of our grieving is regret over “wouldas, shouldas and couldas” forever lost.

God, who created time, speaks of it a lot in the Scriptures. Psalm 90:12, for example, suggests we ask God to “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” If you knew today – or this week – were your last, would you continue with your plans for this day?

Ecclesiastes 3:1 declares, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.” Many of the things we purpose to do, those activities we spend much time planning, are good. But when’s the best time for pursuing them? And when should we stop doing some of the things that have been taking up too much of our time?

And Ephesians 5:16 speaks of “making the most of your time (redeeming it), because the days are evil.” Time, as they say, has a stealthy habit of slipping away when we’re not paying attention. Then we wish wistfully, “If only I had more time.”

Even in a clock, watch or calendar shop, we can’t purchase or acquire more time. But we can “manage” it by appreciating the time we have and utilizing it, better yet – investing it – in ways that will pay dividends both immediate and long-term.

We’re still early in the new year. It would be great if instead of bemoaning at year end, “Where has the time gone?” we could smile and think, “I know exactly where the time has gone. And I believe it’s been well-spent.” It’s good to stop and smell the roses, as long as we don’t become consumed by the weeds.