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Seasons of our lives

By: Kate Gudmanz

I’ve had the privilege of living in three different cities. I grew up here in Johannesburg where the four seasons are quite distinct from each other. Though sometimes Spring comes feeling like Summer straight away with some very hot days!

I moved to Durban as a student and newly qualified worker. I so enjoyed the milder winters, no need for electric blankets and heavy winter clothing. The humid summers took some getting used to. But what I missed most was the fact that the seasons just sort of melted into each other, there wasn’t a dramatic change in the scenery as many plants were evergreens.

I also lived in London for a year where there certainly is a dramatic change between seasons. On a cold, grey morning, seeing the daffodils pushing their way out of the hard ground, you know that Spring is near. Then the days get longer, and the trees start to sprout fresh, green leaves and other beautiful plants bloom, like the rhododendrons and tulips. The long summer days are wonderful to enjoy activities after work. Then Autumn brings the falling of colourful leaves and berries and heather. And Winter has short, grey days with bare-limbed trees, but the grassy fields remain green. And it’s cold!

All our senses are engaged in experiencing the seasons. We smell the freshly mown lawn and the fragrance of roses in the summer, and the smoky fireplace in the winter.

We taste the different fruits of the different seasons – strawberries and peaches and oranges and grapefruit.

We touch the refreshingly cool swimming pool and the warm, woolly jersey.

We hear the early morning birdsong and laughing children splashing in the swimming pool, and the crackling of the fireplace.

We see the beautiful blossoms of spring and the starkly beautiful bare winter trees.

In our spiritual seasons, we can pray to have all our senses alert to what the Lord is showing us and doing in us. To always be aware of His presence and His care.

It is good to remind ourselves that God created the earth and the seasons. Genesis 1:14 (NIV) “and God said, ‘Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years.”

There is comfort in the Scripture that says, “As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.” Genesis 8:22 and Jeremiah 5:24 “Let us fear the Lord our God, who gives Autumn and Spring rains in season, who assures us of the regular weeks of harvest.”

And another, Lev 26:3,4 “If you follow my decrees and are careful to obey my commands, I will send you rain in its season, and the ground will yield its crops and the trees of the field their fruit.”

There are seasons in our lives, somewhat like the four seasons of the year. Though with God they don’t necessarily follow in the order with which we are familiar!

We can have periods where we feel like the dry branches of the trees in the middle of a cold dark winter. And times that we feel like we are growing like bamboo shoots. Times when there seems like there is absolutely no fruit to be seen and times when the fruit is so abundant that it is falling off the branches. Remember that there is growth in every season, whether it is obvious or not.

Just like there are certain benefits and joys in each natural season, there are also in the spiritual seasons. One can only enjoy the fragrance of Jasmine in Spring and an indoor fireplace is only used in winter. Our Spiritual winter will have something beautiful to enjoy even amid cold, dark days.

We have different energy in different seasons. In winter we often desire to stay home and read books or watch movies and series. In summer, there is more of a desire to get out and enjoy the beauty of nature. So, in our spiritual seasons we should learn to understand the different rhythms and when we should rest or be out there getting things done.

We may feel that we are stuck in a dry season and wonder if the rain of the Holy Spirit will ever refresh us again, but we should look to the Lord at such times. Proverbs 3:5, 6 ” Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Let us turn our eyes to Him and remember His promises to us. Jeremiah 29:11″ ‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’ “

We can pray to be like the man in Psalm 1:3″ He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.”