A Time And A Season

 

"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven."

Ecclesiates Chapter 3

No matter how much we grumble, wish, affirm, and pray, spring will get here when it will and not before. I can't tell you how many conversations I've had with Mother Nature over the seeming unfairness of this part of the world always getting stuck with endless winters only to be followed by springs that seem to, well, "spring" by (pardon the pun). As a retired outdoor gardener I can't tell you how many times I've seen occasions like the picture above, when the bulbs finally start to push their way through the earth and into the light because we've had an early February or March thaw, only to be hijacked by one more blast of winter. The fact that we humans have contributed to the harsh climate changes we've seen over the last decade or so seems to never enter our minds when our favorite crocus finally blooms only to wake up one morning to see it covered in snow. Spring will get here in full force when it is ready. To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose no matter how much we wish we could change it.

The same holds true in our own lives. Sometimes we try to push things through to "make something happen," when clearly it wasn't meant to be. It's all well and good to use tools like affirmations, visualizations, mantras, etc., but often, when things don't happen when we think they should, it's because we aren't ready to handle it even though we've been repeating our affirmations 200 times a day. How much more will we appreciate what we desire if it comes when we are ready and able to receive it. We've all heard the stories of people who wail "If only I could win the lottery all of my troubles would be over," only to hear that, after they actually do win the lottery, they are miserable and back where they started within a year. What we desire will come to us in the perfect time, space, and circumstances when we let go of trying to control everything and leave room for growth. Just like putting a seed in the ground, we can't expect it to turn into a flower the next day. To everything there is a season, and a time, and a purpose. 

And so it is.