Charity Autry, Member since 2008, Sunday School Leader, Starting Point Leader, VBS Chair, Outreach Coordinator, Ashamed watcher of reality TV

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (NIV)
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:
 2       a time to be born and a time to die,
        a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3       a time to kill and a time to heal,
        a time to tear down and a time to build,
4       a time to weep and a time to laugh,
        a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5       a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
        a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
6       a time to search and a time to give up,
        a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7       a time to tear and a time to mend,
        a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8       a time to love and a time to hate,
        a time for war and a time for peace.

Reflection:
No matter the age, most of you have heard these words before. The song, Turn! Turn! Turn! was written, rearranged, by Peter Seeger in the late 1950’s then most popularly released by The Byrds in 1965. I say “rearranged” because the words of this song were written in 935 B.C. by King Solomon. Seeger’s version was written as a plea for world peace, his final line was “a time for peace, I swear it’s not too late.” In fact, that line and, “Turn! Turn! Turn!” are the only lyrics actually written by Seeger. The rest were all by King Solomon. Solomon had a long life of ups and downs; he was writing from his experiences.  

The words of Ecclesiastes apply to us today in 2022, just as in 1965 and 935 B.C. Life can sometimes feel like a soap opera, these are the “Days of our Lives”.  For our younger readers, real life is not a soap opera unless you are the Kardashians or the people on Selling Sunset.  If you have no idea what I am talking about, congratulations!  Our lives may not be as dramatic as a soap opera or reality TV, but they are filled with ups and downs, just like King Solomon.  

Reread the scripture above, what “time” are you in? Which line applies for you today?

Betty White recently died at the age of 99. She once said, “Don’t try to be young. Just open your mind. Stay interested in stuff. There are so many things I won’t live long enough to find out about, but I’m still curious about them. You know people who are already saying, ‘I’m going to be 30—oh, what am I going to do?’ Well, use the decade! Use them all!” Betty and God, in no particular order, want to let us know that these are the “Days of Our Lives” and we should live them well.   

I just had a birthday. My husband wished me a “happy ½ way to 90”! At first, I was aghast! Then I quickly realized, what a life I have lived, and I will be blessed to make it to 90. Knowing, you don’t get there without going through the “times” listed in this Ecclesiastes verse. How do we find peace in times of searching, times of hate, times of war? King Solomon is trying to convey the secret to being at peace with God is to trust God’s timing. There are times we are “torn down” by life, but we are built back up by our heavenly father, and usually for the better. 

In my younger years I wished everything could just be easy, I prayed for times of peace. I thought I couldn’t deal with the ups and downs anymore; I wanted a life without turmoil. That did not happen, God had a different plan. There were times of uprooting, times of tearing down, times of searching and times of war. But there was also the replanting, building up, laughter and peace. Looking back, I see my “½ way to 90” life has followed this scripture. These experiences have formed who I am and given me strength for not only myself but others. 

So, if you have your own cry for peace, remember what this verse conveys- there is a time for everything, just seasons that will pass. There is wisdom to be gained and growth to be had. Times of turmoil come to us, but remember you are never alone. There are people out there that can help you carry the burden. People that are walking or that have walked your same path. One day, you may be called to help someone else in their time of war. These ARE the days of our lives. Live them to your fullest. 

Prayer:
Dear Lord, we know life will not always be easy. When we are in times of turmoil we sometimes get lost and cannot see your perfect plan.  Lord, sometimes we just can’t see past our pain.  We pray to keep our faith in your perfect timing. We praise you for the times of healing, laughing and peace! Amen.