To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven . . . Ecclesiastes 3:1 King James Version (KJV)
If you are like me, you thought of the 1965 song by the Byrds. It is one of the few instances in popular music where Biblical text is used – with a few modifications (“Turn, turn, turn”). You can thank me later for the earworm.
We all agree that life is cyclical, with a time for one thing and a time for its opposite. Where I get in trouble, though, is when my idea of proper timing clashes with reality. Planting and harvesting I get, but what about tearing down vs building, searching vs giving up, keeping vs throwing away, silence vs speech? So often I’ve tried to repair the irreparable, find the irretrievable, treasure the irrelevant, or speak just to break an uncomfortable silence.
For instance, right now I’m totally certain that this is the perfect time for healing. For me. From the effects of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
But apparently not. Because it doesn’t seem to be happening.
I checked out this verse in other versions and found:
There is a right time for everything, and everything on earth will happen at the right time. Ecclesiastes 3:1 Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)
Everything happens at the right time. I believe that. Why shouldn’t this be the right time?
Then I read: Everything that happens in this world happens at the time God chooses. Ecclesiastes 3:1 Good News Translation (GNT)
Ah! God chooses the right time. Not me.
Bummer.
But as I read farther into the chapter, I find: So I realized that all we can do is be happy and do the best we can while we are still alive. All of us should eat and drink and enjoy what we have worked for. It is God’s gift.
Ecclesiastes 3:11-13 Good News Translation (GNT)
If I’m not happy doing the best I can with what I have, whose fault is that? Yep, mine. So perhaps, for this present moment, the right now, I can enjoy what I do have instead of whining about what I don’t. Perhaps then I will recognize the blessings God has showered on me aplenty. And being aware, become grateful.
For the present is the point at which time touches eternity.
C.S. Lewis
This is one of the most difficult lessons for me to learn. In fact, I’m still working on it. Or should I say I’m working toward it.
Thanks for commenting. We are all works-in-progress. With each lesson learned, two more appear, like the heads of a hydra!