May 3, 2013 - Lessons from a Season

Another week has come and gone and we have entered another month. As a child it seemed that one month was 67 days and as an adult one month seems to be 6-7 days. Preach. I cannot determine how to slow the hands of time, nor can I account for where days seem to come and go, but I am being more deliberate to stop and consume the experience these days. As I ponder the really cool temps and breeze this morning, perhaps it's blackberry winter? Or, perhaps it's just God being God. I have learned over the past tens years that my routine and the structure of life is good and yet can quickly change. I am determined to "not be set in my ways" and demand that the pattern of yesterday be the pattern of today. I am determined to embrace change and fight for truth. How many of you know that change is not only good but necessary. The Lord reminded me again this morning from Song of Solomon, "the winter season is over: flowers come upon the earth; the season of singing has come." Let's look at the progression as we embrace daily changes with our health: 1. The winter season is over - that season in our lives where we made excuses for our undisciplined health; we tried every fad with no intention of truly making life-style changes; we confessed failure, comforted ourselves, and hid in shame. OMGoodness that's a winter season! The Word says, "IT'S OVER." 2. Flowers have come upon the earth - meaning new life, color, fresh oxygen into the atmosphere, shades of green over drab colors of death, etc, etc, etc. The Word says HAVE COME - that isn't asking a question, is it? 3. The season of singing has come - It's interesting to me that the Word links winter, flowers and singing. Death to life usually promotes singing, especially in the context of new life and not simply existing in the "old" way of life. (winter season) The birds begin to sing again, the wind causes the leaves to sing their songs, the frogs break out into Jubilee, and when we come from our winter season and begin to experience the evidence of deliberate change, we too break forth in song. You know you do. Perhaps your thoughts are, "yes, but the singing is for a season." I see that. However, what if our health journey lasts until we leave this earth? Isn't that a season? Seasons represent periods of time, I understand. What if you and I determined we were allowing unhealthy ways to be over, new life to spring forth in our healthy choices (never returning to our death season), and singing from a place of total health for the remainder of our lives. Song of Solomon says of the winter season, "it's over." I take that as forever over in my health journey. How about you? I'll choose flowers and singing over winter seasons all day long. Talk on Monday, PK PS - please send word about Sunday evening. I am gathering supplies today and tomorrow. Much love!