A Time for Everything

1For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

2 a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; 3 a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 5 a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6 a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; 7 a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 8 a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.

This verse has been passing through my mind repeatedly today - that is, my last day of high school. This year has been a hard one in many ways: a year full of adjustment as I started attending school for the first time in a structured environment. It took a lot of getting used to, but in the end I did, and surprisingly by the end, I had begun to actually enjoy it. Now, as I am just now starting to make good friends, I find that it is time to leave and move on with the next phase of my life. I feel that I am not ready to leave yet. Of course, I will not miss most of the classes (with the exception of Senior Bible which I will miss tremendously) or the homework, tests, or quizzes; but I will miss many of the students. I have gotten used to seeing them daily and hearing about their lives, hobbies, and habits. It will be odd to have that constant communication and sharing-time removed. I find myself hoping that we will see each other often throughout the summer and even our college years. Still, it is hard to leave. This bittersweet mix of emotions is what brought the above passage of Scripture to mind. I have to remember that, even when it is hard, in the good times and the bad, there is a time for everything and nothing can remain forever. When it comes right down to it, I don't think we would want any one time in our lives to last forever - as much as we say we do. We were made creatures of change. From the natural biological changes that are constantly taking place in our bodies to the outward-changes in our environment, family, and friends, we are constantly changing. It is a part of who we are and I think we might become bored or discontent with the same exact personality, tastes, and circumstances throughout our lives. Nonetheless, change can be hard when it comes and it sometimes takes great strength to move on.

As much as we are creatures of change, we are also Epicurean creatures - that is, creatures that live for comfort and pleasure. One of the things we chiefly find comfort and pleasure in as human beings is anything that is familiar. Change is, by definition, unfamiliar unless it is a change back to something in the past. As a result, change is usually unwelcome and intimidating. This is one of the main reasons, I think, that we seniors have trouble leaving school. Even for me, it has become a familiar place with set patterns and expected standards of behavior. Moving on with my life, all will be different and I will not know what to expect. This can be exciting, and it can also be nerve-wrecking. My comfort is the above-quoted Scripture passage. That, and knowing that one thing in my life will never change - that is, God. He remains the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is my Rock and with Him as my refuge and my strength, I have nothing to fear. This is a truly encouraging thought!

So as I move on with my life, I know that, no matter what happens in the future...no matter who/what I lose or what I gain...I know that God will support me throughout it. With Him at my side, I can face this change with anticipation rather than dread, and strength rather than weakness, joy rather than sorrow. And I am glad! Throughout my life, may my motto always be Soli Deo Gloria!!