Rev. Richard Smith
Ecclesiastes 3:1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven…
We have on our refrigerator a magnet which reads, I’m Not Old; I’m Just Chronologically Challenged. I’m not sure when or where we got this…maybe one of our children, Leanne or Clay, gave it to us.
What I do know is that it reminds us that we human beings tend, generally speaking, to evade the inevitable march of time. We typically long to turn the clock back and perhaps hang on to a particular period of our life journey.
I would be less than truthful, of course, if I didn’t admit that at this stage of my life I periodically wish for some bygone days.
On the other hand, I also find that this stage of life brings benefits and blessings worth celebrating.
So, let’s think together on this subject.
Unfolding Time Is Part Of God’s Plan
The passage from Ecclesiastes says it well. As God unfolded this grand journey we know as life, He intentionally mapped out the unfolding stages of Life. He could have done otherwise, but He didn’t.
To some extent we can understand this.
There are experiences and bits of knowledge and seasonings of the soul and developing strengths which one cannot have without life marching on.
Without question, I can celebrate so many life developments which could only occur as I grew older. Inherent in God’s design for humanity is that we grow and mature. Now, He could have just granted us all knowledge and full maturity in one decisive moment of creation, but He knew we would be much more appreciative as it unfolded within us and before us.
Let’s give God credit for his divine wisdom and foresight!
It’s Normal To Want Otherwise
None of us accept life’s ongoing march with absolute equanimity. We readily see and feel the physical changes and they can alarm us. We recognize we can’t do some of the things we formerly could do and we lament a bit. We watch life march on and we remember moments we wish we could relive.
And yet, most of us also gladly hand to the past other experiences and remembrances which we wouldn’t want repeated.
All of this is normal. God understands this about us.
There Is Always The Possibility Of Joy
The ones among us who walk this life journey with a lasting skip in their step are those who understand that whatever is not totally to our liking, there are always blessings to embrace and celebrate. I’m not saying that we minimize the truly painful and challenging moments of life. I am saying, as a pastor who witnessed it day in and day out over 46 years of ministry, that as one pays attention, we can always find bountiful blessings.
I pastored a woman who was in her 40s who was diagnosed with terminal cancer and who, after numerous treatments and procedures, realized she was going to die. She had a devoted husband and three pre-teen children. In the midst of their natural deep sadness, she determined that she would leave her children a gift…the ability to look at life and this world and give thanks. She regularly had them, sometimes amidst tears, celebrate each day with reflections on joyful things that day. When she died, they greatly grieved; but they also felt extraordinarily blessed to see life as deeply joyful!
I pastored an older man who battled a progressive lung disorder and for whom each day was a battle. But each time I visited him, he would say, “Preacher, what’s the good news today?”. We then would talk about the good things going on in life even amidst the trials.
We Can And Should Keep Dreaming
The noted Christian thinker and writer, C.S. Lewis, once said, You are never too old to set another goal and to dream a new dream. Wise words!
We can also say…never too bruised to dream a new dream; never too troubled to dream a new dream; or, never too defeated to dream a new dream.
Keep dreaming! Keep looking for new possibilities! Keep on keeping on, with God’s help!!
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