Changing Seasons

“Death is all around us.” I softly uttered these words to my husband as we sat on our back porch sipping coffee in the cool of the morning.

The older we’ve become, the more acutely aware Jeff and I have grown to the sobering reality our days are truly numbered. We’ve started to exchange strange expressions with each other as people we know, some we deeply love, have either suffered great tragedies, or . . . died.

My brother-in-law recently lost his father, my aunt is struggling with a difficult diagnosis, and an acquaintance currently lies immobile in a hospital bed resulting from being struck by a car on her bike. Just this past week, two of our friends lost their mother, and another friend’s son was discovered to have developed a dangerous mass requiring emergency surgery. Friends and business colleagues, my own age, are suddenly dying of heart attacks or suffering debilitating strokes.

When did we get older anyway? There’s a saying that goes, I thought getting older would take longer. That’s so true, isn’t it? I mean, I can still picture myself making mud pies in the back yard without a care in the world as if it were just yesterday. The truth is–time waits for no one, and passes rapidly. And none of us are exempt from death. Along the way of receiving disheartening news and having attended a few memorial services, I’ve learned a few things.

I used to think if something went wrong in my life, or if circumstances brought me to a difficult place for a time, well then, it must mean I have a bad life. I used to assume certain things only happened to specific people, certainly not to everyone. This couldn’t be farther from the truth. Reality? Life is one big ball of continual changes, good and bad. It’s a simple fact that things are going to happen. The Greek philosopher, Heraclitus of Ephesus said it best:

“The only thing that is constant is change.” — Heraclitus

The one constant thing about life is, it continually changes. Just as colored leaves signify a change of seasons, so too my life is a series of changing seasons. Ongoing circumstances and events, “seasons”, bring experiences of growth, accomplishment, joy, laughter, discouragement, set-backs, pain, anger, sorrow, loss . . . and yes, death. And guess what? My seasons are not reflective of any certain kind of life; they are my life. They are your life too.

The Bible puts it this way:

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, 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. What does the worker gain from his toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on men. He has made everything beautiful in its time.”  –Ecclesiastes 3:1-11a

Here’s the thing. Life may continually change, however, the one constant thing about God is, He does not. Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” There’s a truth you can hang your hat on. The whole purpose of the life and death of Jesus is not so that we may have a smooth, easy life. Jesus lived and died in order that we may glorify Him while here on earth, and to prepare us to be reunited with God in heaven. To receive life everlasting. I’m not talking about physical, everlasting life. While God indeed promises His joy, His peace, His strength, and His love while we live out our mortal lives, the earth is not the final home for the believer. It’s just a pass-through until we are joined with Him in the kingdom He has prepared for us.

Time is fleeting. In the blink of an eye we look back, wondering how we ended up where we are. So, hug the necks of those loved ones around you. Raise a glass as you wipe a tear and toast the fond memories of those who have gone before you. Most importantly, invite Jesus Christ into your heart; into your life.

I’ve read He’s a great, constant help in weathering changing seasons.