For everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, 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 cast 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 cast away;
A time to rend, 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.
– Ecclesiastes 3, 1-8
I have an interesting exercise that I find helpful in understanding the connection between growth and change and the turning of the seasons of life.
- create a picture of your life modeled after the rings of a tree
- each ring corresponds to a year (or maybe a period of years) of your life
- give a title to each ring that describes the primary external experience of your life
- then title each ring with your primary internal experience
Then place that picture in a prominent place in your home where you can let it speak to you.
Growth truly is irrevocably connected to change, and change is kind of like the weather. There are years where storms are blowing things in every direction:
Then years when the sun is brightly shining and all is well:
How about those foggy years when your visibility is limited:
Then those years when the rain seems never-ending:
Then……do you remember your year of the great fire?
Only then to experience the years of new growth
What will be your story for the ring that life is giving you this year?
To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven
Just a thought…
Pat
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