Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, 11 (NIV)
1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: 2 a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, 3 a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, 4 a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, 5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, 6 a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, 7 a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, 8 a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.
Some in my generation might believe these words were first written by Pete Seeger in the 1950’s for the song “Turn! Turn ,Turn”, and made popular by the singing group “The Byrds”. Of course, they were Solomon’s wise reflections on life recorded in Ecclesiastes 3. Solomon, in the amazing wisdom God gave him, recognized that life progresses in seasons, and they won’t last forever, no matter how much we wish they would at times!
These last 2 ½ years of watching Claudia valiantly fight cancer only to lose that battle and die last October has caused me to reflect a lot on my life and how God somehow uses all of this for his bigger purpose. Let me share what I have determined are the seasons of my life (somewhat boring to you, I’m sure!) so that maybe you can reflect on your life and determine what season you are in, and where God may be moving you next!
Season 1: My life before Jesus.
I was one of those kids that got very good grades in school, was decent in sports, and fashioned myself part of the “cool crowd” in high school (although in retrospect, I think they just tolerated me!). I was told, often by my older sister and brothers, that I was actually at times arrogant, and a snotty-nosed “know it all”, who actually knew very little. I know, all you who know me now find this impossible to believe, haha!
Season 2: I meet Jesus (as a junior in high school!)
At the end of one of my many “one-date only” experiences in high school, this nice Christian girl saw that I really needed help, and so she invited me to a bonfire (sponsored by Youth for Christ) after the football game. That night, in the lives and joyful attitudes of these youth leaders, I saw something I didn’t have, and desperately wanted. That was a life-changing relationship with Jesus. I finally understood to ask Jesus to take over my messed-up life and direct and lead me forward, and he has done that from that day until today! Later that same year, God showed me his wonderful sense of humor by calling me to become a pastor! Please understand, at that time I stuttered and was afraid to even answer a question in class, so I thought God was crazy! But he wasn’t and I decided to trust him, so I went to college, seminary, and went to my first church in Redford Township.
( Season 2 (meeting Jesus) covers the rest of my life, but there are several “sub-seasons” that define my life):
Sub-season A: my life with Claudia, for 43 wonderful years!
Apparently God saw that I again needed a lot of help to live as a pastor, so my first Sunday in my new church, the senior pastor dragged Claudia into my office and said “I’ve got somebody I want you to meet!” We started dating 2 months later, were engaged in December, and married the following July. This season of my life was truly the best part up until now, and it was wonderful having Claudia as my best friend and companion in life, truly the love of my life. We truly enjoyed being a “team” and being used by God to share his love with others. We were blessed to have our 3 wonderful sons, who have become amazing fathers and Christian men of integrity, who married 3 strong, Christian women, and have produced together the 9 most wonderful grandchildren in the world! (OK, I might be a little biased. I know your grandkids are also “the best in the world” to you too!)
But, in these last 9 months since CJ moved on to live in the very presence of Jesus, God has shown me in many obvious ways that this season of my life is over. I will always love Claudia, more than any of you, and I will always thank God for the privilege of sharing an amazing life with her. Some people make the mistake of living on past memories, only barely surviving in life and not thriving in the abundant life that Jesus has for us. I cannot be like that, because I know God left me here for a purpose, and to bring glory to him by serving him. So, I look forward to the next sub-season of my life:
Sub-season B: The rest of my life on earth!
In Philippians chapter 3, Paul recognized this need to move his life forward when he said,
Philippians 3:10-14 (NIV)
10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
For me, that involves enjoying God’s creation and people in a way that leads others into the Kingdom. I will continue to blog, and lead Bible studies and small groups in different capacities. And I hope to be a positive, Kingdom-centered person who continually encourages others to join God’s Kingdom and know the freedom and hope for eternity that only he can offer us!
Now, I truly admire those who are able to navigate life as a single person! But, looking at my history and realizing how much I enjoyed sharing life with Claudia, I’m again asking God to lead me a wonderful Christian woman, in his way and in his timing. Please pray for me listen to the Spirit’s leading in this area, and to be patient and trust him. And also pray for God’s leading and direction for any women that I may begin a relaitonship with. I think praying for God’s plan for each person to be lived out, regardless of how a particular relationship plays out, is the truly biblical way to approach this.
So, I hope you take the time to determine what season in life YOU are in right now!
Remember to celebrate and enjoy the season you are in now!
But, also remember that no season will last forever, and God is ultimately moving us all toward the FINAL SEASON!
THE “SEASON FINALE”, WHICH IS ETERNITY!!
Notice Solomon slipped in verse 11 above: 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.
Yes, every season can be beautiful, in its proper time. BUT, God has put in each of our hearts a desire for the “Season Finale”, which is eternity in the very presence of God! No matter how good or bad your season may be right now, God has an amazing new and eternal season waiting for all those who trust their lives with Jesus!
God gives us a glimpse of this in Revelation 21: 1-4:
1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
Whether you now find yourself in a wonderful season of joy, or a season of despair, remember that God is always with you and will never leave nor forsake you!
And always keep your mind and hope focused on the future, because the best that God has for us is yet to come!
Please pray for me, and I will pray for you to have peace and hope in your season as well!