Ecclesiastes 3:1
There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
Pat and I watch a television series whose theme song is the very familiar Que Sera Sera. It was first sung by Doris Day in 1956 in the Alfred Hitchhock movie, The Man Who Knew Too Much.
The chorus, as you know, are the words, Whatever will be, will be; the future’s not ours to see; what will be, will be.
In one sense this musical piece speaks a strong truth. We do not get to frame the present and future as befitting our desires, our wants, and our wishes. Each of us in this life will find things developing quite outside that which pleases us or is joyful to us.
We people of the Judeo-Christian faith understand that trust in God’s way of doing things is at the heart of mature spirituality. We can question God, wonder about God’s ways, even at times embody some doubts, but in the end we either trust God’s goodness or we do not; we either give the future to God or we stumble along in uncertainty.
At the same time, this song plants a form of unhealthy passivity. We still have a calling, a responsibility even, to do all we can in our present circumstances to shape a future which reflects the Jesus way of existence…loving others, caring for others, standing up for others, giving ourselves to actions which lift up others rather than belittles others. To what extent our present and future personify justice, kindness, fairness, goodness is to a large extent in our hands.
So, maybe there could be a song which reflects the hope that while our world and our lives will never be perfect, there is so much which can be done which shapes a present and future replete with goodness. “What might be, might be” if only we do our part as God’s faithful witnesses.
One of my favorite hymns is Breathe On Me, Breath Of God. The opening verse alone invites us to be faithful God-centered vessels: Breathe on me, breath of God, fill me with life anew, that I may love what Thou dost love, and do what Thou wouldst do. That conviction could certainly help us join God in shaping a promising present and future.
