Theme: Seasons
Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:1 The New International Version
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:
Devotional:
Is there really a time for *everything?
I'm not sure where I land on this question. Of course, I know what scripture says, "there is a time for everything, and a season for every activity...," but there are parts of me that wonder if there really is a time for everything. Everything. That's such a large concept.
Everything means *nothing is left out. Every *thing has a time.
Yes, I am aware that I am speaking in circles but follow me, I promise I am going somewhere with this.
I recently felt very tired while I was at work and wondered (out loud) do I have time to take a nap? I have heard from friends who text and say, "call me." My response is almost automatic, "I don't have time."
I am often overwhelmed by the number of times that I say, "I don't have time." And, mostly, that is true. I work. I have a family. I have friends. I have hobbies. I don't have time, though. It has also been said that we make time for what we want. Sigh. That is true too.
Yet, I want to go somewhere else with this question of time. Not long ago, I was sitting with an acquaintance, and I made mention of my youngest brother's premature and tragic death. In the middle of my talking about it, I was struck by this thought, "how long will I be *allowed to grieve his death?" Is there a time limit? This brings me back to my original question, "is there really time for *everything?" And how much time do we get?
If there is a time to laugh and a time to cry, how much time?
If there is a time to mourn and a time to dance, who -or what - determines the time to do either?
We live in a busy time. We are moving here to there - and quickly. We are rushing time and very rarely have enough of it. And, yet we - and scripture - says there is a time to do it all. Is it?
I want time to take a nap. Can I?
I want time to be sad about a broken relationship. Can I?
I want time to feel disappointed that things didn't work out at my job. Can I?
I want time to experience the ordinary *AND the extraordinary - at the same time.
I want time to let the dishes sit - and not feel bad about it.
Is there time for *all of that? A better question is, can I make time for *all of that?
For me, because I have convinced myself that I don't *have time, I don't *take time to do any of these things. Then I sit. I seethe. I stew. All because I didn't give - or take - time.
Prayer:
God will redeem the time. God will redeem my time. God will restore. For all the ways I have wasted time, I repent. For not giving myself time to feel what I feel, when I feel it, God forgive me.
God will redeem my time. God will restore. I believe; God, help my unbelief.
Reflection Question:
What have you not given yourself time to do? What takes up most of your time? What time do you need God to redeem for you?
What do you need time to do...?
- Cry
- Sulk
- Imagine
- Mature
- Yell
- Scream
- Write
- Quit
Seemingly, several you mentioned above, plus…time to finally, most especially, make time for myself, my “Hearts desire.” All of which have once again, stepped out-of-the inner room, that I’d truly thought I’d finally, calmly, resolved, prayed my way through years, actually decades back, calmly moving forward, onward.
ReplyDeleteAccepting, embracing all that needed to be done, several times over, and calmly, lovingly so from my heart.
I truly don’t have another “start, abrupt stop” in me, and not sure I even have enough in me to allow myself to make time…. My unbelief.
Then, a few months back I slowly recognized what was presenting as a pointed-convergence, driven by several unrelated activities I’d found my way to, that “nourished” my “mind, body, Spirit”, mind-blowingly so! In a way that would “collectively” be needed, utilized “if” I made the time. What? Really? Now? Today’s “Prayer” deeply talks to “weary, overwhelmed, confused, anxious” me. Thank you.
Wow! Thank you for such a heartfelt, honest and thought-provoking response. I am intrigued by your journey and feel your words so deeply. I appreciate your willingness to share and the sincere way that you engaged with the devotional. I will pray that your unbelief will be attended to, and that God will hear your heart's desire and respond. "I truly don't have another 'start, abrupt stop' in me" hit me deeply in my core because I feel very much the same. I also appreciate the vulnerability you are displaying in sharing your reflections with us. Blessings as you continue on this journey!
DeleteTime....I want more of it for some things and less of it for other stuff. I'd like more of my days to have time for things that I know feed my soul. Listening to music, looking at flowers, writing, mindfulness (which is hard to settle down for) , laughing with friends, praying and even eating fresh food that's not processed. Then I build in time for thinking and reflection. I want less time for long meetings at work, watching novellas on TV being too angry to speak to some people . 😊Sometimes the thinking/reflection time shows me things I'd rather not face (anger, grief, despair, hurt, fear). Until very recently, I have to admit I intentionally stayed too busy so that I didn't have time to deal with some of these negative thoughts and emotions. I was afraid I would be consumed by them. But I know to get to do the things I enjoy that will enrich me, I have to be willing to process the painful/negative things so that I can learn from them too. They don't magically go away if you ignore them. That's where prayer comes in. So I pray every day to make a conscious decision of how to use my time. Thank you for the thought provoking questions and guidance to a more open and honest relationship with God. Sometimes I feel like I have learned more during these Lenten devotionals in a week than I have over the past few years.
ReplyDeleteThank you for such an honest reflection - and your very kind words and encouragement. Time is a real thing. And, yes, not processing the painful/negative things does *not go away simply because we ignore it/them. That is a hard pill to swallow, mostly because it is *easier to simply ignore it/them. I pray that as you seek more time with God and yourself that you will give yourself permission to *take the time you need to do all of those things you desire and none of the things you don't. Thank you for engaging, doing the hard work of reflecting and responding so that I know it's not all just going into an abyss. I appreciate your thoughtful exchange. Blessings as you continue to journey through this Lenten season.
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