Winds of Change

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

 1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:

 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 from embracing,
 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.

November is upon us and we are moving into my favorite time of year. I love the fall when the dog hot days of summer are behind us and we step out into a crisp morning air; when sweaters are comforting and leaves crunch underfoot, I find joy in these changes. Pumpkin pie scented candles stir up memories of family meals and anticipation of those coming up. Colorful fall and winter vegetables are displayed more prominently promising a variety tantalizing dishes. The smell of a cozy fire wafts thru the air. Yes, these are some of the changes fall brings and I love them.

We live in a world of changes, where events of time, and conditions of human life, are vastly different from one another, and yet occur promiscuously, as we continually pass and re-pass between them, just as the revolutions of every day and every year come and go. Time is not stagnant and neither are the conditions and situations of our lives. It is the still waters that gather decay and turn sour, yet the Living Water that is God brings life and with life comes change.

Regardless of where we might find ourselves or the conditions thereof, be it in a time of mourning or a time of laughter, we can hold complete confidence that the Lord has it all in the palm of His hand. Before, during and after, He is aware of what we are going through. In the times of struggle it is harder remember the winds of change will be blowing again soon and our circumstances will not remain. It is not as comforting to think our times of plenty and laughter will also go through change. What is gathered will be scattered and all we counted as our treasure will no longer reside in our storehouses. We can find ourselves gathering once more. Sowing is an annual event necessary to bring the harvest. Therefore we should cheerfully content ourselves with, and make use of, what God has given us.

This scripture in Ecclesiastes is comforting to me. I know my God has me in His sights and all my times of trials or triumphs are part of His 'big picture' plan. He made provision for every circumstance I will encounter. Just as the tides ebb and flow, so do the changes of our lives. He is the one constant we can count on. Bring on the change!