Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
3 For 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 throw 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 throw 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.
Reflection
I was hesitant to refer to this scripture reading. I confess that I don’t like to think that there is a time for war and hatred. And yet right now it would be easy to think that war and hatred, intolerance, racism, and violence are the only things that people are making time for. And while not as prevalent on social media and in the news, there are peaceful and peace-filled protests, relationships being righted and people finding new ways to care for one another and reach across divides. The time for speaking, love, peace and healing is now.
Many people ask what they can do and how they can respond. A recent article in the online Broadview magazine (formerly the Observer Magazine) speaks to these questions. I encourage you to take a look: https://broadview.org/what-i-need-from-white-people/?fbclid=IwAR3Rckbh0ssdzSDkthLbWHj0YuiQ36EuFcn3N2kmr9puZKJZ0CZYUmQP88o
Someone shared a quote from Rick Warren, author of The Purpose Driven Life and other books. Warren writes:
“The best use of life is love. The best expression of love is time. The best time to love is now.”
Friends, I pray that you take the time and make the time to live and experience love.
Prayer
God, open our hearts that we might love with action and intention. Open our minds that we might learn. Open our mouths that we might pray and speak. Open us to one another and always to you. Amen.
To Listen:
