A time to dance, a time to adjust our shoe. (Click, and again, for larger view.)
One of the most known passages in Ecclesiastes is the time poem . . . a time for this and a time for that.* Then the Byrds came along and made it more so, setting it all to arresting harmonies. The truths seems pretty basic really. Then again, there is a certain permission given, not to mention an understanding about how life works. Whatever the situation is now, there will be another later, and likely opposite. Ours is to not only accept it, but rise to the moment with appropriate response.
The list is complete enough to symbolize just about everything else we could think of. There’s a time to be born, a time to die, a time to plant, a time to uproot, a time to mourn and a time to dance. So it goes for seven plus seven couplets. It’s double complete. But I could add some of my own, like:
There’s a time to sleep, a time to wake.
There’s a time to give, and a time to receive.
A time to kiss, a time to not.
A time to be light hearted, a time to get serious.
A time to give advice, a time to just listen.
A time to work, a time to rest.
A time for risk, a time to refrain from risking.
A time to be sensual, a time to be coy.
A time to speak up, a time to shut up.
A time to light the fire, a time to let it die.
A time to say Yes, a time to say No . . . and another time to say Maybe, or Later, or I don’t know.
But why is this news? Maybe because we can easily get out of balance and think we should be one way all the time . . . like, always pious and lose the joy.
There’s a time to laugh, but we don’t always laugh.
There’s a time to cry, but not always to cry.
There’s a time for ideas, and a time to put them to work.
There’s a time to win, but we don’t always win.
There’s a time to follow, but sometimes we’re to lead.
The person who feels s/he always has to act in a certain way is acting against nature. Playwrights cast their actors that way so we can follow the play; but it’s not how God casts us.
Life is more full, more complex, with sometimes calms and sometimes storms.
Sometimes we fight; sometimes we refrain from fighting.
Sometimes we hoist sails, sometimes we take them down.
There’s a time for everything; but it’s up to us to know what time it is.
There’s a time to forgive, a time to ask forgiveness.
A time to initiate, a time to be passive.
A time to fish, a time to cut bait.
There’s a time to pray, a time to act.
A time to spend, a time to save.
A time to train a child, a time to watch him go.
A time to mow, a time to let the grass grow.
There’s a time for everything. And everything comes just in time.
Time. We don’t understand it much, but we live in it. We act like we own it. Rather, it’s given as loan to us.
“It’s my time,” we like to say, “and what I do with my time is my business.” Sounds impressive . . . but whose business is it when your time comes?
There’s a time for every deed.
Once again I say, Godspeed.
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*Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
Next: Life’s Little (Unlikely) Instruction Book. Coming Saturday.
Our Lives Together
Its About Life
9:31 am
I love it Hyatt. Of course, the song brings back many youthful memories, but the Scripture incites peace and comfort. Thanks for your insight and prose.
9:41 am
It’s always a good time to read your thoughts.
10:37 am
Hyatt!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is always a walk in the park, a breath of fresh air, a relief!, a peace, a joy, a laugh, and most of all a blessing to hear your words——–your wise wise words, expressed, filling up, overflowing our minds———with you, Hyatt! With your soul, our God right through you in the form of the Holy Spirit, lighting our paths by your word paintings! Thank you! Love this! Freedom! Flying! Release today! Thank you! love Lisa
10:45 am
My fear and control gets in the way of living as things come in time. Perhaps it’s ‘failures’ or my perception of weaknesses that says I gotta act a certain way. Again your words point me to the Master of the Universe who gives me grace and time as a gift, like all His provisions. I thought about money when you mentioned loan for time. But so freeing when I think money is a loan also for me to be a good steward of it.
12:14 pm
Time…I’ve been thinking about it a lot, how fast it goes, how little I have, and most importantly how arrogant I am claiming it’s mine to begin with, it’s not – it’s a gift. As I grow more mature (wouldn’t want to say old) I’m making efforts to not push my timing, but flow with God’s timing. Amazing how hard that can be! Yes, everything comes in time when I relinquish control of the clock. Thank you Hyatt for reminding me!
1:00 pm
Whether rushing too much or hesitating too long, this is an excellent reminder of our awesome God’s gifts to us. Thank you again, Hyatt!
1:07 pm
Lisa Hoyt has hit the nail squarely on the head today with her wonderful comment to you, Hyatt. I so agree with her. Thank you both for sharing your thoughts.
2:15 pm
I liked this a lot. Do you really think like this at all times Hyatt? You seem to be a poetic person, one who processses through some of the things that for most of us just skim across our thoughts. At times we allow them to penetrate deeper, but certainly not every three days. I am enjoying your challenges and am even grasping hold of them in my personal thought life. Thank you for communicating.
2:18 pm
p.s. “Love that painting!”
3:58 pm
Your blog today prompted a memory from 40 years ago Hyatt…..I was the secretary of the youth group and responsible for putting together the contents of the bulletin boards. The Lord zeroed in on this same passage of scripture in Ecclesiates and so in picture and word I illustrated the verses on the youth group bulletin board. I don’t remember any other board I put together but that one and the passage has always been meaningful to me.
I enjoyed your additions and and thoughts concerning the passage, especially this part:
“But why is this news? Maybe because we can easily get out of balance and think we should be one way all the time . . . like, always pious and lose the joy.”
“The person who feels s/he always has to act in a certain way is acting against nature. Playwrights cast their actors that way so we can follow the play; but it’s not how God casts us.”
“Life is more full, more complex, with sometimes calms and sometimes storms.”
Thank you once again for putting your thoughts on paper for all of us to enjoy!
5:29 pm
Hyatt, Have you ever thought of writing a children’s picture books? Many of your phrases are simply good manners which kid’s truly need to know and do. You could even illustrate the book. Give it some thoughts. Thanks for these insightful and delightful blogs.
5:45 am
Thank you, Hyatt.I’d like you to paint a picture of you, The Thinker. Talent flows through your fingers and from that good brain!
Just yesterday as I was looking for a new top (blouse), I so wanted a particular one but knew it was too young for me. There was a time for the teen look and now is the time for a larger ( : > ( more mature look. Darn! I’ve gotta get with the times.
9:22 am
I believe not long after the Byrds, the Chamber Brothers released simply, “Time.” “The time has come today…” to ponder our place in the universe, and long for our eternity. This movement (not always spiritually motivated) naturally led into the Jesus Movement, where countless thirsty souls were satisfied, mine being one of them. As I recall, we all loved the longer, extended versions of songs the bands would play in that day at their concerts. Today we’re blessed by your extended version of the Preacher’s Poem, Hyatt. Thank you! LOVE it.
4:03 pm
Some of these truths are SO basic – but I need to read them over and over. I forget so fast. Or life screams louder than the truths I know, and sadly often I listen to circumstances rather than God’s truths.
8:19 pm
Loved your poem and thoughts on the timeliness of whatever happens in life. There should always be a time to read and enjoy Ecclestiases. Just read part of it in New English Bible to give me a boost!