As we live our lives things change. Sometimes by our choice or mistakes, sometimes because of others or circumstances beyond our control. Sometimes we embrace it, sometimes we want to run from it. But like it or not change is a part of life. One change we can't stop is aging. Time marches on. We all grow a little older each day and as such just like that we can find ourselves in a different season of life. For me I think it's early fall. For my kids probably late spring. It's the milestones of life that will help us to determine this. Recently my baby girl got her driver's license. A milestone for her and an alert for me. Next week Matt returns to college to finish his education and move on to his next season of life. It won't be long till we will be true "empty nesters". Our time of nurture and training will be done and it will be time for them to spread their wings and fly. It will be bittersweet as we will not be able to see our Mikey do the same as his season on this earth has come to an abrupt end. Yes this another season has changed.
Twenty five years ago I was looking forward to this time. Now I'm not so sure. Maybe because it means I'm closer to my winter, and don't we all hate winter here in the north? Maybe because I'm going to miss them being around. Yet in all of it I realize that this is how life is on this earth. It's not forever and things don't always stay the same. Yet we should make the best of it, especially as a believer, because whatever the season we are in He has some work for us to do. There is no retirement in our labor for the Lord until HE calls us home.
So what's the point of this blog post? I guess it's this, change is going to happen no matter what so why not embrace it? Change means new adventures and opportunities for growth. Sure there could be bad things that happen sometimes that really hurt and change for change sake isn't always good. Just like with the weather there are good things and bad about all the seasons. During the rough times of the seasons we can find ourselves complaining trying to wish the time away. Like during prolonged times of cold and snow, rain or extreme heat and humidity. We shouldn't do that. We should embrace and enjoy the whole of the season we are in because God is in it all. Warm, cold, sunshine or rain. He has a purpose for it and we just might miss it if we start looking too far beyond the here and now.
The words of two friends have stuck with me since I have heard them. The first come from a friend from high school who simply said "I don't get too concerned about the bad things, because I know they don't last forever". I like that. Gives us no reason to dwell on the bad. The other from a coworker some years back. While working in the hospital I was required to be on call quite a bit and one Friday afternoon I was sitting in the lounge lamenting how I hated being on weekend call and couldn't wait till Monday. My coworker simply said to me, "Paul don't wish your life away". Profound words. Yet we do that all too often and in the process can miss out on so much.
Until next time,
Pastor Paul
