I was feeling off-kilter the other day and couldn't quite pinpoint my restlessness. We've had a bunch of distractions related to home projects and all the disruptions that come along with such progress, but even that didn't seem to fully explain why I was feeling unsettled.
I later found myself discussing "life balance" with our painter. He was feeling unsettled, too.
It occurred to me that many of us have gotten back into some of our activities in modified ways, but we're still navigating a lot of unexpected changes and uncertain about how the holidays are going to unfold for our families.
This continues to be a season of upheaval. Collectively, we're still facing a multitude of loss. I was praying for a dear friend who is in mourning, so I turned to Ecclesiastes to read the passage about there being "a time to mourn and a time to dance."
As I read Ecclesiastes 3, I was struck by how poignant these verses are during a pandemic.
"a time to be born and a time to die"
"a time to weep and a time to laugh"
"a time to embrace and a time to refrain"
That sounds a lot like social distancing, doesn't it?
"a time to plant and a time to uproot"
As our families have spent more time together during shutdown, hopefully we have all sown some good seeds and nurtured some tender relationships.
This summer we had a literal planting session, repotting several plants and sending our college kids to school with some off-shoots of our houseplants. It was a good reminder re: legacy and personal growth.
Perhaps some of us have used this season to uproot ourselves from some bad habits, starting up some healthier routines?
How many of us have cleaned out closets and sorted through stuff that perpetually piles up?
"a time to keep and a time to throw away"
"a time to tear and a time to mend"
A record-setting season of hurricanes?
"a time to tear down and a time to build up"
All the racial tension and protests??
"a time to be silent and a time to speak"
"a time to love and a time to hate"
"a time for war and a time for peace"
The Lord is at work through all of this pandemic turmoil. We may not be able to see it now or even soon, but we can trust in HIS divine plan.
"He HAS made everything beautiful in its time." Ecclesiastes 3:11
Hang in there, friends. God's got this!
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