The Wisdom of Ecclesiastes: Turn, Turn, Turn

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to throw away;
a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.
What gain have the workers from their toil? I have seen the business that God has given to everyone to be busy with. He has made everything suitable for its time. ~ Ecclesiastes 3:1-11a

Some people believe holding on and hanging in there are signs of great strength. However, there are times when it takes much more strength to know when to let go and then do it.” ~ Ann Landers


Probably the most famous verses here from Ecclesiastes. 
Are you like me and you want to sing these verses? The song, Turn, Turn, Turn, was made popular when it was recorded by the Byrds when it came out in the 60s. But it was written and first recorded 60 years ago by Pete Seeger. If you look it up on Wikipedia, you'll see the writer credit goes to both Pete Seeger and the Book of Ecclesiastes, as the lyrics are nearly a line by line adaptation from the book.
And here in Ecclesiastes the tone begins to "turn, turn, turn" as well, if you'll pardon the pun. Suddenly, everything doesn't seem to be a vanity or vapor.
Everything instead has a time and a season.
As someone is on the other side of 50, that message has been a particular poignant one for me to try to fold into my life. I can see in the mirror the passage of one time to another. I can feel in my bones the passage of one time to another.
What time is it in your life? Are there things you are holding onto from a previous time that it is time to let go of so that you can be ready for the next thing?
And in our homes and churches and communities, are we being nudged to move from one time to another?
God has made everything suitable for its time, the teacher writes, before it is time again for something new.
What time is it in your life? What time is God calling you toward? What is God calling you to let go of so you can turn the page?

To close, here's Turn, Turn, Turn, sung here by The Byrds.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4ga_M5Zdn4

Prayer: Lord, help me to let go of those things that it is time to let go of so that I may be ready for the next thing you would have me move into. Amen.

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