There is a Time for Everything

“The world is so full of a number of things, I’m sure we should all be as happy as Kings.” – Robert Louis Stevenson. My mom used to read his book of poems, A Childs Garden of Verses, to us when we were small children. She was a literature teacher so I guess it goes with the territory. I remember this one well, probably because that’s the entire poem right there. But it has been very profound and memorable in its simplicity.

And, indeed, the world is full of a number of things. Beautiful things. Worthwhile things. Interesting things. Fun things. Creative things. I’ve been trying to keep a low profile lately as I finally realized that I’ll never get to these ‘things’ if I keep running around town looking for superficial excitement. Being unemployed gives way to a certain restlessness and discontent. At least when I’m working I always felt like I was part of something bigger, something more important than my wee little ordinary life. But who says my life is wee, little or ordinary? It can be whatever I choose it to be because I’m in charge of me. So I don’t have to give into that restlessness. I can choose to live in the beauty of all the possibilities available to me and my cherished creativity.

There are scenes to be painted, quilts to be sewn, food to be cooked and experimented with, ivories calling out to be tickled, books to be absorbed, wisdom to be gleaned, writing to be poured out on paper, loved ones to serve, friends to be encouraged, songs to be sung, paths to be hiked, mountains to climb, roads to be traveled, prayers to be prayed, beauty to be made and stillness to be enjoyed. Coffee and roses to be smelt.

I can give my life meaning if I choose and I DO choose. My life can still have purpose and I can still be part of something bigger than myself. Maybe even more so while I’m unemployed as I have more time to focus on all the pursuits that pass me by when I spend so many hours at the office. I have time for people. I have time for creativity. I have time for the pursuit of knowledge and wisdom. I have time to listen to friends stories and empathize. I have time to work on my attitude and my actions. I have time to make beauty. I have time to purge my life of useless clutter and fill it with glorious simplicity. I have time to listen to music and time to read the Word and let it heal my soul. I have time to focus on what’s truly important rather then getting sidetracked by the urgent.

Ecclesiastes tells us that there is a time for everything and a season for everything under the heavens. Therefore, there is a time to be busy at work and and there is a time to regroup and engage your creative side. There is a time to be on a rigid daily schedule and a time to loosen your grip on the clock. There is a time to acquire the needs of life and a time to learn frugality and a time to learn when enough is enough. There is a time for expedience and a time to be still and listen for His voice (which actually is expedient). There is a time to dispel the harmful stories in your heart that were leading you astray and a time to write and believe new stories that are based on truth and reality.

There is a time to discover what is true about yourself and what nurtures your soul. A time to discover who you really are at your core and to realize what fills your heart with joy and what causes you to grow and thrive not just survive. There was a time for mourning and questioning and healing and now there is a the time for action and process.

This is a time for purpose and intention. I’ve had enough of drifting through the days eyes glazed over with confusion and procrastination and idle talk about what could be. It’s all up to me to live a life of intention and engage my creativity to the full before God calls me onto something else. Who knows, maybe this is His purpose for me in this season of life. I don’t have to have it all figured out anyway, I just have to move forward. If you want to want to walk on water you’ve got to get out of the boat.*

So here’s to a season of less urgency, more focus on what’s really important and engaging in whatever it is that heals the soul and fills the heart with joy. Carpe Diem.

*Bible study and book by John Ortberg