Reading

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.

Ecclesiastes iii.

Reflection

Ecclesiastes iii. is an oft quoted passage from the Old Testament. At its heart is the belief that all things are in God's hands, that things happen according His timing, and that His timing is good. In the passage we are encouraged to make the best possible use of the time we have, remembering that we are finite beings.

I find this passage incredibly inspiring; and I can read it time after time after time and connect with a different clause in the list. 

Some days feel like 'planting' days: often my working days in Stanway fall into this category. These days are exciting days as I watch and am involved with new things being 'planted' and established. 

Some days are more mournful, and it feels appropriate to weep, throw away and lose. These may be days where things aren't going well, or when those around me are getting on my wick. These may be days where I want to hide away under a rock and forget about the world. 

As yet I haven't got round to 'a time to kill', although I have come close!

As lockdown draws on, and as our days begin to fill up again and return to normality, let us make time to consider what sort of Ecclesiastes iii. day we are having; and let us offer it to God - after all, we are living to His timetable!