Timing
Good Wednesday to You,
We often find ourselves working towards "perfect timing." Take a look at any stage of life, the weight of any major event, timing feels like everything. The questions people ask, "is this the right time to buy a house?" or, "Is this the right time to get married?" I shared on Sunday morning how I am blown away by the timing of athletes, especially quarterbacks and their ability to throw a pass. With the football is in the air, the timing of the ball and receiver must arrive at the spot at the same time. Simply a amazing when it works perfectly. To get to that level of expertise, they have to put in thousands of hours. But, even in that example, some passes are incomplete and it feels like the timing is just not right, and the rhythm they are in is interrupted. (Yes, there is a defense working to disrupt their rhythm, but that's a sermon for another day.)
Everyone has some kind of routine in the day. The days add up and create weeks. Weeks add up and create months. Months turn into seasons. Every day we build patterns and rhythms—it's call "life." We grow to love each of the patterns we create—the timing of it feels perfect. Those same patterns help us get from one point to the next. But, when the timing shifts, or when seasons change, we ask more questions. Like, why did this have to change? Or, how do we go back to what we know? What do we do next?
The wisdom found in Ecclesiastes tells us "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the sun." We looked at chapter 3 in which the author points out there is a time for everything, "a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot." We know these things intellectually, but when we experience these shifts in time, our rhythms are disrupted and we can feel disjointed or lost. Sometimes, in an effort for self-preservation, we feel numb to it all.
What we know about the book of Ecclesiastes is the author sets out to identify the meaning of everything. Many of us know the saying "Meaningless! Meaningless! Utterly meaningless. Everything is meaningless." It comes from Ecclesiastes 1:2. After all the places in which the author searches for meaning, the conclusion is made: "Fear God and keep his commands, for this is the whole duty of man" (Eccl. 12:13). We are entering a new season of life at the comer of Tenth and C Avenue. Two things remain: 1) God is Sovereign and 2) our mission "To Know Christ and Make Christ Known" will continue.
I challenged everyone, even myself, when the moments of loss come over you, or when frustration sets in because weere in a new season, to hold our your hands out, palms facing up and ask: "Holy Spirit, what are you teaching me in this new season I am in?" We worship a God who is faithful in all seasons of life—not just the good ones but all of them—good bad and ugly. As you hold your hands out, allow the Holy Spirit to comfort you in this time of transition. My prayer has been that you would hear God's voice in a meaningful way. I didn't leave the challenge with just listening. As my good friend says "We're better together than apart." I challenged you to share your experience with someone close to you. Invite them into this new season with you. In our new season, together, with the guidance and comfort from the Holy Spirit, we will continue to be the Church, living into the Kingdom here and now.
Blessings,
Pastor John
If you missed this Sunday’s sermon, click here to listen now!
