A Change in Seasons

This was originally written for my summer staff, but thought you all might enjoy it. 

This time of year it always seems like everyone talks about the change in seasons, from summer back to school.  We buy books, clothes, and for some of us sort through our belongings to see what we can and cant live without as you head off to school, some for first time adventures, and some back to the same routine. 

 In reality it really is a change, just as it was a change in seasons coming from school to camp this summer.  You had to live with, work with, eat with and even brush your teeth with those people you were working with (hmm maybe there is something in all the “withs”).  But now you go back to school and you will be around different people, facing different challenges. 

At times like this Ecclesiastes 3 comes to mind.  If you can’t recall it maybe you remember the song “Turn, Turn, Turn” by the Byrds.  (I know some of you are now singing the song in your head, or you can check it out at this link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LSTc-5Fn_Y).  You know its a funny thing but that is alot of what Solomon says in Ecclesiastes 3. 

Anyway Ecclesiastes 3 says:

 ¹ There is a time for everything,
       and a season for every activity under heaven:

 ² a time to be born and a time to die,
       a time to plant and a time to uproot,

 ³ a time to kill and a time to heal,
       a time to tear down and a time to build,

 ⁴ a time to weep and a time to laugh,
       a time to mourn and a time to dance,

 ⁵ a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
       a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

 ⁶ a time to search and a time to give up,
       a time to keep and a time to throw away,

 ⁷ a time to tear and a time to mend,
       a time to be silent and a time to speak,

 ⁸ a time to love and a time to hate,
       a time for war and a time for peace.

Look at the first verse.  There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the sun.  We all just passed through a season together.  A summer camp ministry season.

So with this little reminder, that there are times and changes of seasons in our lives.  God set up this world with seasons in nature and in our lives, with proper times for most everything (verse 1).  While we remember our awesome summer of ministry (and honestly there were a few bumps in the road) we do need to look forward to the change in seasons from camp back to school, or work or whatever else God has for you right now. 

So we could say there is a time to come to camp, and a time to head home.  A time to unpack for camp and repack for school.  A time to share our lives with campers and a time to share our lives with our school friends… But we know that these are all times God has worked out for us.

Now may you look toward this new season in your life.  May look for how God can use you and what he wants to teach you in this new season. And may you remember where this season we all just came through took you and how you grew.

-BG