Seasons Of Life

A close examination of the butt end of a log shows the age of a tree. There's a ring of growth for each year the tree has lived. Some rings are wide and some are narrow. These differing growth rings reflect either the ease or the difficulty of each growth season for the tree.

In like manner, a reflective look back upon our own lives reveals the years of our growth. There are events we remember that reflect healthy, productive seasons of development. And there are events that remind us of times when our lives seem stunted, thirsty, and painfully barren. Our lives are a real mix of these different kind of times. It is to be expected that there are both pleasant and difficult times in our lives.

Unlike trees, however, the easy and hard times in our lives often come to us rapidly in succession. For instance, I've just returned home from spending two weeks out of state, celebrating with my son and his wife the birth of their newest child. That joy of spending time with them and my grandchildren is now changed to a sad, dull ache in my heart because I won't see these loved ones again for many more months. It was a very happy experience to be followed now by an empty span of time.

Our emotions can rise and fall like a roller coaster. For instance, I was glad to see my dear friend at church yesterday, but today I learned she has fallen, and being severely injured, she is in much pain and needs the care of a nursing home. My time to talk and laugh with her has been changed to a time to weep and pray for her.

As we age, changes in our ability to function like we used to in the past always surprises and shames us. For instance, this day was bright and clear and I was able to accomplish a lot of yard work. It felt good to be outside raking the winter debris off my lawn. Then I thought about the need to change the motion detector light on my garage since it hasn't been working for some time. However, I realized that I've aged since I last replaced the detector, and I knew it wasn't wise for me to climb up on a ladder to the peak of my garage to do the repair myself. I have to accept my physical limitations and will need to call on my son or son-in-law to do the repair for me. It's humbling to have to ask for help.

I've always found comfort that the Bible describes there being a time for every matter that occurs in our lives. God recognizes the varying seasons in our lives, even the varying circumstances or emotions that each day brings us. 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 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... Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 ( only parts are quoted) A God who is this forthright in describing our human condition is the one we can trust, not only in the healthy, productive times of our lives, but also in the stunted, thirsty, and painfully barren times of our lives. His desire is that through all these times, our growth rings reveal that we are growing to know Him better.