The idea that there is “a season for all good things” is well ingrained in my thinking. Hearing my mother respond, “not now Bill” was a clear signal that I had misjudged the when and where. My sense of timing was so consistently incorrect, that it is not hard to remember her tone of voice which came with each statement! With the message reinforced by a pop song by the Byrds, her response formed a strong belief which governed my thinking.
My initial conclusion was, with hindsight’s enlightenment, misguided.
There are seasons in our life. As I look back, I see cycles of springs, summers, falls, and winters, each amazing and fulfilling it their own way. I also see themes which transcended the seasons, playing themselves in my daily life. Each day gifts us with the opportunity to refresh our deepest values and live them out. Life’s flow continues, the twists, turns, and colors creating new ways to see and experience each moment.
In any given moment, there are opportunities. Living life to the full can be enhanced by being open to what is unfolding in the here and now. Releasing one grasp on the past and fear for the future, brings one to this time. It sounds easy. It is definitely easy to write. However, it is one of my greatest challenges. I do know that when I do both, I am surprised by how full life becomes. Care and kindness can play themselves out at any moment. Celebrating beauty, wonder, and love are always appropriate, even when they are tailored to the context of where, how, and why.
In any given moment, we can be more recreated. Many lessons come from the recurring dark night of the soul. Time, often when everyone else is asleep where I wrestle with Divinity. I have come to treasure these experiences, because in each I sense Divinity’s great love for humanity, the relentless belief in us and our freedom to love. The psalmist’s words ring true, “praise him, sun and moon, praise him, you morning stars.” (Psalm 148.3)
