Focus

Pay attention to the tension in your body. Let go of it and any expectations to do anything other than God’s will today. Prepare yourself to hear God’s word.

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Read

Ecclesiastes 3:1-15 (NRSV)

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up 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 throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to seek, 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 for war, and a time for peace.

What gain have the workers from their toil? I have seen the business that God has given to everyone to be busy with. He has made everything suitable for its time; moreover he has put a sense of past and future into their minds, yet they cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. I know that there is nothing better for them than to be happy and enjoy themselves as long as they live; moreover, it is God’s gift that all should eat and drink and take pleasure in all their toil. I know that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it; God has done this, so that all should stand in awe before him. That which is, already has been; that which is to be, already is; and God seeks out what has gone by.

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Reflect

This passage from Ecclesiastes is often used in funeral services. Personally, I think it could use some wordsmithing. I am not fond of strong words that have negative connotations. What is it with all of this talk of “a time to die,” “a time to kill,” and “a time to tear down?” Would it not be more inspiring to talk about “a time to live life abundantly,” “a time to cultivate,” and “a time to restore and renew?”

However, we have to deal with the more difficult realities that are also part of life. As a society we spend a tremendous amount of energy denying things that are a coming reality. We deny that death will come to any of our loved ones, and certainly not to ourselves. Yet, the death rate is 100%. When we grapple with difficult things like death, destruction, starting over, and tearing down, we can find a freedom that allows us to live the rest of our lives with more joy, peace, hope and love. All aspects of life have been faced by those who have gone before us, and will be faced by people in the future. None of it is new, but dealing with these issues will give us a new outlook on life.

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Pray

Lord, help us to know what the proper season is. We know there is a time and a season for everything. Yet, it seems confusing to us at times. Show us clearly what needs to be happening in our lives. Then give us the courage to follow wherever you are leading us. Amen.

Go with God.