Today’s post is going to be a little different. I have been going through my computer files and organizing them (who is surprised?). Anyway, I came across this document and thought I’d share it with you all, in case it helps anyone to read it. So a few years back, my parents’ church put together a daily devotional with pages contributed by various members. They asked Dad to write one and what he wrote is below. My dad was a bit of a rebel growing up, especially as a preacher’s kid. And he wrote this a few years into his battle with bone cancer. I find it to be a nice reminder of the necessity of balance in life… and that every stage or phase we might be in, won’t last forever. Enjoy!
As a teenager of the late ‘60s, one of my favorite songs was Turn, Turn, Turn by the Byrds. After learning the words of this song were taken from the Bible, I thought maybe this is one song my parents wouldn’t mind me listening to. Through the electric guitar and drums the words resound with a timeless message of balance.
To everything – turn, turn, turn
There is a season – turn, turn, turn
And a time for every purpose under heaven
As I’ve aged this is still one of my favorite songs and the scripture it uses – Ecclesiastes 3:1-8.
A time to be born, a time to die
A time to plant, a time to reap
A time to kill, a time to heal
A time to laugh, a time to weep
Life goes through turns, some hard, others easy; but living each turn brings another, usually better.
A time to build up, a time to break down
A time to dance, a time to mourn
A time to cast away stones
A time to gather stones together
Our world is filled with choices and sometimes we only choose the easy things. This breaks the balance of the universe as it is through tough times one is made stronger with the following turn a softer one.
A time of war, a time of peace
A time of love, a time of hate
A time you may embrace
A time to refrain from embracing
If one gets too far unbalanced with all the demands of life the enjoyment of simple living disappears. It’s when we spread our time between all turns of life – family, work, friends, religion, ourselves – do we truly receive the peace of life balance.
A time to gain, a time to lose
A time to rend, a time to sew
A time to love, a time to hate
A time of peace, I swear it’s not too late!
It is the inner peace of God’s blessing that we must rely on to understand the turns and balances of life. When I struggle through tough times, I remember there were better times and again better times to come. I carry my beliefs in God’s words:
“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.”
Amen.
Rays of Funshine 