There Comes a Time

For many people 2020 was a major setback.  I won’t begin to list all of the possible different scenarios, but we all know what happened. Rejoice, the number of your days have extended your life into the 2021 calendar.  Excuses aside, there comes a time when your thoughts and commiserations must become action.  ​

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, 12-13
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:
2a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
4a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
6a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
12 I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. 13That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God.

Ecclesiastes 5:13-20
13 I have seen a grievous evil under the sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its owners, 14or wealth lost through some misfortune, so that when they have children there is nothing left for them to inherit.  15Everyone comes naked from their mother’s womb, and as everyone comes, so they depart. They take nothing from their toil that they can carry in their hands.
16 This too is a grievous evil:  As everyone comes, so they depart, and what do they gain, since they toil for the wind? 17All their days they eat in darkness, with great frustration, affliction and anger.  18This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given them—for this is their lot.  19Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God.  20They seldom reflect on the days of their life, because God keeps them occupied with gladness of heart.

What are you indecisive about?  What is it you have been pondering, but first trying to get every detail in order?  What would happen if you just went ahead and tried it without everything being just perfect?  What is perfection, anyway?  As King Solomon tells us there is a time for everything - maybe the time is now.  There is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live.  What good thing are you hesitant to do?  Could your unhappiness be due to your unwillingness to unclench your own fist?  Is someone you know in need, but you remain unwilling to help?  Since you can’t take it with you, be a blessing to someone else.  No, they can’t take it with them either, but you will have shown them the goodness and mercy of the Lord.  We should never rely on things, possessions, stuff - to make us happy.  They may provide temporary happiness, but only true happiness, joy, comes from a relationship with Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. 

There are all sorts of things, good things, the Lord has prompted us to do that have not been done because of technicalities, excuses, and the pursuit of perfection.  I, too, am guilty, but I really try to get over myself and just do the good things the Lord has put in my heart.  

Around Thanksgiving, I decided that I wanted to mail Christmas cards to family and friends, a tradition I had stopped several years ago.  I wanted to hire a photographer.  I wanted to buy matching Christmas sweaters for the boys, and the dogs.  We would meet the photographer at the big Christmas tree downtown then I would write this grand poem to be printed on all of the cards and mail them out to all of my family and friends.  As the time drew near, I hadn’t ordered the sweaters, I hadn’t written the poem, I hadn’t found a photographer...it looked like I wasn’t going to send cards.  I took the dogs out to photograph them with my phone, then I took a few uncooperative photos of the boys with the dogs and looked at everything.  I decided on a photo of just the dogs.  Then I ordered them, they arrived late, and I thought the picture was dark.  I didn’t have a poem written, and my excuses began to mount. Finally, on Christmas Eve, I mailed the cards.  No one received them before Christmas, but they did arrive and I received several texts and phone calls.  Our family and friends know our love during this socially distant season. 

In the 5th chapter of Ecclesiastes, Solomon says it is a grievous evil how people hoard their wealth, how they leave nothing to their children.  He talks about how we are born with nothing and will die with nothing we can carry in our hands.  “17All their days they eat in darkness, with great frustration, affliction and anger.”  Is this you?  Do you live in darkness, frustrated and angry regarding the conditions of your life?  Stop this cycle and make change.  Make a plan and work through the process.  

I have so many people tell me they want to write a book.  They want to know about the publishing process and how everything works.  I typically ask them, so have you written the book?  Almost always, the answer is no.  Writing is a process.  Publishing comes many, many steps after writing the first iteration.   

2020 brought about great, unforeseen change.  There is too much risk for us to do some of the things we were accustomed.  Rather than just being sorrowful, think about how you can safely do the things you desire.   I’m leading a Bible study group, but have never met the majority of my group in person, as we meet on Zoom.  I’m thinking of how we can gather outdoors and what we can do to make our time meaningful.   It’s a new year, but yes, many of the old problems linger. Be creative and think of new ways to have old fun.   And don’t forget, there is a vaccine, consider whether this may be an option for you.  Don’t remain in darkness.  Do good for others.  There comes a time when you just need to be a helping hand and show God’s love.  The time is now.  Amen. ​

Happy New Year! 
Be Happy and Do Good.
​There comes a time and the time is now.
Kim

Photo by Niklas Kickl on Unsplash