Shortly after we arrived in Cook County in 2015, Skip Lamb convinced my kids that they should be downhill skiers. He told them all about the amazing junior program at Lutsen Mountains. Tina and Don McKeever helped us outfit them for their first year on the slopes. John Oberholtzer and other NJRS coaches taught them how to ski a slalom course.
I remember Elijah’s big fall in one of his first races: skis and poles were flying everywhere but he wasn’t hurt, and Sophia’s reluctance to race that first year. I tried to hook Sophia on cross country skiing but to no avail. This year they were both on the Cook County – Silver Bay High School team coached by Charles Lamb. Last week they skied in the section ski meet at Giant’s Ridge. This week three of their teammates will ski in the state meet.
I asked them this morning what they were thinking about: perhaps the big issues in the news – the impeachment acquittal, the corona virus, the Iowa caucus? Of course they weren’t thinking about any of that stuff. They were thinking about the end of their season. They were thinking about their friendships with their teammates, their collective growth as athletes, the great runs and the times they felt bad because they or a teammate missed a gate or took a fall. They were looking forward to the next thing while holding on just a little longer to the last thing.
That’s a little picture of life. One portion of scripture that is often quoted during funerals is Ecclesiastes 3: “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.” The writer, perhaps King Solomon, goes on to list some times and seasons of life.
You are probably in a different season of life than my kids, but you too understand that the seasons of life change: we move, we change careers, new relationships develop and others fall away, children are born, we grow older, our children grow older, loved ones pass. We face economic booms and busts, we pass though joyous times and difficult seasons that may seem like they will never end.
It’s interesting to me how often the Bible deals with the changing of seasons. While the writer of Ecclesiastes sees it all as vanity, Daniel replies, “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, for wisdom and might are His and He changes the times and the seasons…” In each season of life there is learning to be had.
Its tempting to want to know exactly how each season will change, to want to take charge of our lives, direct the future, plan ahead, to make the road smooth. Jesus tells his disciples, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.” Instead he reassures them of the power of the Holy Spirit who will guide and comfort them. A faithful response to the changing of seasons is to trust God’s providence, remain open to new opportunities and relationships, and keep fixed to His promises.
Of course this calls for patience and perseverance. Despite hardships the Apostle Paul remained unashamed “of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes.” He told the churches in Galatia, “let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”
Skiing down a slope at 40 miles per hour has its challenges. There are good runs and bad runs. Such is life. It’s the inner peace and growth that matters. Jesus says, “In Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
Pastor Daren Blanck, Zoar Church, Tofte, A Lutheran Congregation in Mission for Christ Each month a member of the Cook County Ministerium will offer Spiritual Reflections. This week our contributor is Daren Blanck, pastor of Zoar Church in Tofte, a teacher at William Kelley High School and a student of Beyond the River Academy, a ministry program of Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ.
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