Ecclesiastes 3 Cate Burton
Me and Time
My wrist watch stopped working today.
It no longer tick, ticks as it should.
I am reminded that time continues on,
regardless of how I count its passing,
whether through minutes or hours
or seasons or cycles.
I am here to find joy in this moment,
and when, for the life of me,
I cannot seem to see it anywhere,
that’s when I remember
that I am found by the one who brings joy,
the one who brings life.
the one who is life.
· It seems that God was teaching me to enjoy time, to slow down and celebrate those unexpected moments of life when time, as a specific entity, doesn’t matter anymore.
· Humanity is bound by time, God is beyond time.
Solomon and Time
There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
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 from embracing,
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.
· Solomon identifies the difference between God – who is eternal, whose love endures forever – and humanity – temporal and mortal.
· The events of life are not determined by us, they are beyond our control.
· God never changes, but changes everything.
· In life we experience times of sorrow and times of joy. God is with us in each experience.
Jesus and Time
· ‘Jesus Christ is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.’
Colossians 1:15-17
· ‘He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for you sake’. 1 Peter 1:20
You and Time
· What time is it? What time are you in?
· Whatever you are experiencing is not beyond the presence of God
· Don’t rush. Don’t hurry. There is time for everything.
· Be fully present, for the fullness of God dwells in you through the Spirit of Christ.
· ‘One day, God will turn your weeping into dancing; and remove your sackcloth and clothe you with joy, your heart will sing to God and you will not be silent, you will give thanks to the Lord your God for eternity.’
adapted from Psalm 30:11-12
