Changing seasons

Everything changes

We struggle with being birthed. We struggle to walk, talk, obey, etc. We struggle through puberty, we struggle with friendships, finding the right partner, buying a home etc. It's tough but we finally make it to the sweet years - all sorted! 

Then, after climbing the massive hill to adult life, things can start to lose their glow. A job loss, a failed pregnancy, a cooler atmosphere in the home etc. Why? How could this happen? When will life get easier? Well, the truth is, it won't. We live in a world where gravity dominates everything. For example Autumn. Leaves turn from green through yellow, orange to red. It stuns me. I took the cover photo recently in the street where I live, and do so every year. But gravity means those beautiful leaves end up in gutters, on walk ways, and in driveways etc, and the initial glow of Autumn is forgotten. (A favourite author wrote about why would leaves fall in Autumn leaving the tree bare for the coming winter. Seems a reasonable question to me.) 

Often the glow of our choices can end up in the gutters of life. Why? Is that fair? If we use creation as an example, weeds are more dominate than wind and rain which only makes them flourish. They persist, just as sin does in our unfocused, uncommitted lives. 

Even if a perfect scenario is possible, life will still change. A new season: children grow, have children of their own while grandparents find it harder to pick up these blessings due to sore knees. A loved partner will die, leaving the spouse to enter a new season. Did God want it this way? No, definitely not! Did He creates us to live forever? (Yes, and time will tell.) Was getting old and crotchety part of His plan for us? Broken relationship? Definitely not. It's all a result of sin entering the world. Not only do we humans suffer but creation as well. 

So we go through seasons, just as creation does. And each one can bring joy or misery depending on our attitude to facing challenges. Spring brings hope, summer warmth, autumn beauty and winter freshness. All required for our good. Why? Because way beyond our understanding of the word LOVE, God loves us, whatever season we are facing. And He will continue to do so whatever our circumstances.

by Jo Warner