Seasons Change
Hello guys, I hope you’re all keeping well as we approach summer. The weather has been erratic as expected so don’t ditch the jackets just yet.
Today’s edition will be brief as I give a quick summary of what’s been happening over the last few weeks. I was fortunate enough to attend the Women’s Champions League Semi Final at the Emirates between Arsenal vs Wolfsburg, with the record-breaking crowd treated to an absolute cracker of a game, albeit the result going the way of the Germans. The atmosphere was exceptionally positive as fans came in good spirits on the Bank Holiday Monday. It was a great milestone for women’s football and the turnout showed the ever-increasing support of the game.
Fast forward to Sunday 7th where I went to the Olympic Stadium to watch West Ham vs Manchester United, a disappointing affair to say the least. Sat in the home fans section I wisely hid my allegiance to United. ‘When in Rome, Do as the Romans Do’ looked like faking disappointment at lost possession for the Hammers, or breathing a sigh of relief when Rashford’s shot whistled just past the post. The demise of De Gea has been painful viewing for all parties, and his blunder for Benrahma’s goal was pitiful to say the least. For the sake of preserving his legacy at United it is best we part ways now, however it’s clear this won’t happen. More importantly though I’m still yet to grab a hot dog or burger at a game, so it’s safe to say my priorities have been skewed.
By the time this is posted I will have also attended Arsenal - Brighton, a fixture to savor (a separate post is pending). This is a particularly exciting season I am in- one I am trying to maximize. A great worry of mine is for opportunities to evade me or the perks of a particular season not being fully exhausted. As we are all to familiar with life operates in seasons and there is a time for everything. Wisdom would suggest that as opposed to forcing one’s will upon a given time it would be more beneficial to identify the emphasis of the day and adjust accordingly. There are moments to fly against the wind but as the eagle demonstrates the greatest momentum can be generated when one holds their wings outward and soars on the strength of the prevailing currents.
As such, a few scriptures come to mind:
Isaiah 40:28-31 NIV: “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Ephesians 5:15-18 NIV: “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit,”
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 NIV: “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silentand a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.”
It all starts with God. I have often wearied myself with attempting to force my will upon life and dictate events in my timing and convenience, however often this has only caused frustration. When I have submitted myself to his timings and asked for the ability to not resist His desires, the striving has had a different emphasis. Not a strive for control, but for alignment. That may seem like an abstract concept, but it is simply the search for synchronization. Like the tuning of the right radio frequency for a station, once reached there is a flow. It is better to go with God’s flow and tarry until you find it. There is also the need for opportunism in this time. Like Filippo Inzaghi constantly on the hunt for any chance, Christians ought to be primed and ready to read the signs of the times and act decisively. Like Elijah, who sensed the sound of rain, postured himself to receive confirmation in prayer, persistently looked for the accompanying sign, and ran with it by the power of the Lord, we too need that level of sensitivity if we are to possess what God has made available to us.
Make no mistake about it- the degree to which we maximise our seasons will determine our fruitfulness. In times of sowing looking for an harvest is futile, yet in times of reaping time spent planting is wasted effort. I pray we all are perceptive enough to know what we ought to do in these times.
To a simple life;