The beach vendor caught in a news lens, somewhat tells his own story. With only 4 games remaining in the FIFA world cup, the bonanza for vendors is fading, as is this season of football. Soon life for all will plod along again as we return to the grind of real life.
As I write, the sun is lighting the sky and the tinging the heavens with hope for a new day. However, the inexorable course of the sun across our skies dictates that for me to have a sunrise, others must be heading towards a sunset or some other phase in their life cycles.
The sunrise is just a subset of the greater dawns that herald the start of seasons. We all have our seasons. It starts with our birth: that most wonderful of all moments when life starts. Beyond that we face other seasons, some exciting, some not so. The start of school is a big milestone for many children, but later they enter the season of puberty or high school or college or marriage or parenting.
Many have experienced spiritual seasons, when we enter the valleys that mark the start of a wilderness period. As for life stages, so each season of struggle has a clear beginning, although its implications and our acceptance of such seasons, is often masked by denial or confusion. With time we all come to realise the weight and significance of a divine season and how vital such seasons are to our growth.
A fruit tree only bears fruit for about 10% of its annual cycle. The rest of the time is spent in preparing for that season of abundance, resulting in times of dryness, barrenness and apparent death. Yet beyond the loss of our leaves (death) and the dormancy of autumn and winter (burial) there is always a spring (resurrection), where God will clothe us again so we can walk in His glory and be fruitful in our knowledge of Him.
The beach vendor may be walking in the sunset of a season of abundance, but I know of many who long to see the sun set on their seasons of uncertainty and brokenness. Well know that every season will end, yet in so ending will mark a new season. If you are struggling right now - hang on, don't lose hope, for it has all come to pass. The times and seasons of life are all set by God, who will surely bring seasons of sorrow and dryness to an end, so that you can go on and be fruitful in what He sowed into your life through the winter.
Look up - for your salvation is at hand - even now it breaks forth. Look around you and see evidence of the return of spring and the seasons of growth and plenty you have so longed for. Stand up - for a new day is coming. He who started a good work in you, will surely conclude it so that you may live and that He may be glorified in the outworking of handiwork in you.
(c) Peter Eleazar @ www.4u2live.net
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