WELL HERE WE ARE IN SEPTEMBER ALREADY! It seems to me that not long ago it was Lent and we were looking forward to Easter and now we are heading towards the end of Summer. September is a time of anticipation and new beginnings. Some children will be starting nursery or school for the first time; some will be moving to Secondary School, and some going on to college or university as young adults before going out into the big wide world of work. It can also be a time of worrying about what the future might bring, especially for those awaiting exam results.
Our lives are all about stages or seasons that flow into one another, often without us realising until we stop to look back and, however hard we try, we can’t stop time moving on. If the last few years have taught us anything, I think we have learnt that it is best to make the most of life as we never know what is round the corner, rather than always looking for something that might never happen – we might even gain some useful wisdom and experience along the way! In Ecclesiastes 3 we read ‘There is a time for everything, and a season for everything under the heavens….’. It explains that there is a time for everything ordained by God, and encourages acceptance of both joy and hardship as part of a larger, divinely ordered plan. We should not expect life to be a linear progression of constant happiness, but rather a series of contrasting experiences that ultimately contribute to a greater whole. While sometimes we go through happy times and sometimes sad ones all the memories and things we have learnt live on and continue to shape our lives.
Whatever time or season you are at in your life, may you know that God is with you, loves you and has the best plans for you. For those of you awaiting exam results this month, remember that these will not define you. Whether they are what you hoped for or not, may you find happiness in your unique path through life and fulfil your potential.
With blessings, Sue
Sue Hack, Associate Minister based in Hathern.