By David ReayFriday 26 Jun 2015LifeWords DevotionalsFaithReading Time: 0 minutes
Transcript:
Read Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
1 For everything there is a season,
a time for every activity under heaven.
2 A time to be born and a time to die.
A time to plant and a time to harvest.
3 A time to kill and a time to heal.
A time to tear down and a time to build up.
4 A time to cry and a time to laugh.
A time to grieve and a time to dance.
5 A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.
A time to embrace and a time to turn away.
6 A time to search and a time to quit searching.
A time to keep and a time to throw away.
7 A time to tear and a time to mend.
A time to be quiet and a time to speak.
8 A time to love and a time to hate.
A time for war and a time for peace. (NLT)
The Swiss psychologist and writer Paul Tournier once explored the theme of letting go and moving on to another season of life. He used the analogy of a trapeze artist. In order to take hold of the trapeze bar coming towards her,the artist had to let go of the one to which she presently held. And so there was that short time of having nothing to hold onto.
So for us as we move into varying seasons of our Christian journey. Sometimes we are clearly called to let go of something harmful: a toxic relationship,a destructive habit,a distorted mindset,a crippling sense of hurt or grievance.
Other times we may have to let go of things that are not bad in themselves. A ministry,a job,a social commitment. We let go because unless we let go we can’t take hold of what new thing God might have in store for us. If our hands are clenched tightly around anything,good or bad,we are unable to open our hands to receive anything different.
And yet it is so hard to let go,as the American poet Robert Frost writes in his wonderful poem Reluctance:
Ah,when to the heart of man
Was it ever less than a treason
To go with the drift of things,
To yield with a grace to reason,
And bow and accept the end
Of a love or a season?
Blessings
David Reay