I keep calling this summer a “preparation” or “transition” season because it seems like I’m stuck in between two things. I’m buying backpacking supplies, writing letters, saying goodbye to college friends, and mentally preparing to meet a whole team of new friends on Wednesday. I’m keeping busy, but it still seems like a lot of waiting around for my new life to start.
Meanwhile, I have also reached an age at which many of my peers are beginning new seasons… Marriage. Moving to new cities. New, very adult-y jobs. It’s so exciting and surreal to watch friends grow up, though I’m still in denial that it’s happening to me too. It’s also starting to sink in that I won’t be here to witness those changes for a whole year.
In processing through all of this, I’m reminded of Ecclesiastes 3 (better known as that Turn, Turn song) and how King Solomon writes about a season for everything.
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
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 from embracing,
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.
This summer will come and go. Next year will come and go. And I don’t need to worry, because God has planned these seasons ahead of time, and I can trust His character. Even if they’re hard, I don’t want to wish away any season of life, especially these next two months.
Often, in conversations with students on campus, I hear “I’ll check out religion when I’m older” or “That’s great, but I just want to have fun.” God is portrayed in popular culture as a killjoy, but He’s just the opposite. He is a loving Father who also sees and knows everything. He wants me to thrive and live meaningfully, therefore if I love the Lord more than anything else, and strive to do what He asks of me, I’m living the best possible life.
I’ve tried to take my life into my own hands, follow my heart, do what’s best for ME, etc, etc. Our efforts, in the words of Solomon, are meaningless. A chasing after the wind. We’re looking for substance, and we won’t find it here on earth, or in any fleeting season.
Which reminds me, wedding season has arrived!!! Last weekend, I was a bridesmaid in one and it was SO MUCH FUN. The bride and groom were ecstatic to be married and every guest could see how much they loved each other. We all danced the night away and had a blast celebrating our now-married friends and looking back on God’s work in their life.
Revelation describes the Church as a bride, presented to Christ, the groom, to be united forever in eternity. There’s also a giant feast, some music, and I’m assuming a pretty stellar party. I realized that right now, and for the last 2000ish years, we’re in a “preparation” season too. Only it doesn’t involve booking a venue or creating seating charts. God is bringing his kingdom to earth, and on that wedding day, there’ll be no more death, weeping, mourning, suffering, or pain. He longs for that day, longs to be in perfect relationship with us, but also has perfect timing. Every season from now until then is prepared and planned, and therefore I will walk gratefully in those seasons. What a gift it is, to be placed specifically where I am right now by the Creator of the universe. No matter what my feelings are, this is His very best for me.
