We often hear about the "Christian Right," or "Conservative Christians." Yet, if you think about it, Jesus was the original liberal.  He cared about motives more than the deeds themselves (Matthew 23:5 & Mark 12:41-43) and more about compassion than adhering to rules (Luke 6:1-11 & Luke 13:10-17). This blog will reflect liberal Christian values of compassion, tolerance, mercy, charity, a thirst for knowledge & understanding, and, above all, love.

Friday, September 20, 2019

A Time For Everything Under Heaven

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Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 ~
“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:
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,
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.”


I just returned home from seeing the Downton Abbey movie. Utilizing magnificent vistas, ornate settings, and resplendent costumes, Julian Fellows wove a tapestry of stories together to allow fans to revisit their favorite characters.

Although, we were treated to a variety of tales, “the inevitability of change” was a theme which ran through the entire film, just below the surface. Being on the cusp of major changes myself, I may have been extra aware of such themes. I’m not sure.

I don’t handle change well. I’ve often remarked I’d like to live in the Simpsons’ Springfield, where nobody ages and the status quo remains constant. Of course, that's not what God had in mind for his children.

Life, is a series of linear and circular changes. We’re meant to grow, change, and evolve. Yet, such change requires letting go of the known and embracing the unknown. I typically drag my feet when faced with such change, fighting tooth and nail to hold onto what I know.

Ironically, every time I look back at such transitions, I can see almost all of them proved to be beneficial.