Living in south Florida, the seasons don't change like everywhere else.
Looking at the typographic landscape here, it is always the same--"very green."
Am I complaining about the greenness of this place? No way, this place is
paradise and we south Floridians know it. Flip flops, tank tops, the beach, and
easy living is our motto. Summer is our way of life--rest, relax, chill, drink,
be merry and enjoy life then start all over again. Sometimes, we take the
summer for granted and forget that summer can't always last forever. This
morning as we woke up to a very cold 39 degrees we were reminded that "there is
a season for everything and everyone."
Consider this parable: There was a man who had four sons. He wanted his
sons to learn not to judge things too quickly. So he sent them each on a quest,
in turn, to go and look at a pear tree that was a great distance away. The first
son went in the winter, the second in the spring, the third in summer, and the
youngest son in the fall. When they had all gone and come back, he called them
together to describe what they had seen. The first son said that the tree was
ugly, bent, and twisted. The second son disagreed, saying it was covered with
green buds and full of promise. The third son also disagreed he said it was
laden with blossoms that smelled so sweet and looked so beautiful, it was the
most graceful thing he had ever seen. The last son disagreed with all of them he
said it was ripe and drooping with fruit, full of life and fulfillment. The man
then explained to his sons that they were all right, because they had each seen
but only one season in the tree's life. He told them that you cannot judge a
tree, or a person, by only one season, and that the essence of who they are and
the pleasure, joy, and love that come from that life can only be measured at the
end, when all the seasons are up. If you give up when it's winter, you will miss
the promise of your spring, the beauty of your summer, and the fulfillment of
your fall.
I have lost someone that I love in every season; my Grandmother in the
winter, my Grandfather in the spring, my Mom in the summer and my Dad in the
fall. Yet I have found reverence, renewal, rest, and reflection in all of their
seasons. I have learned that winter is inevitable. It gets cold and things
wither away, sometimes the very thing that we love the most, winter takes away.
Winter can be bleak, colorless, and dry--in our lives we can be overlooked,
alone and depressed--spiritually barren. But just as we think winter is going
to stay, God changes the landscape and spring arrives. Spring is a time of new
beginnings. It is a time for us to be patient. It is a time of seeing seeds
that have been planted grow into new relationships, new connections, and new
opportunities. The cold blast of winter gone, springs says hope has arrived.
Spring stays for a moment and then summer's beauty and bliss is embraced by
all--a time to rest and relax. It is a time of productivity and joy; all that
we have worked for has finally come--"we stop and smell the roses." Don't miss
this season by continuing to be busy doing things that really don't matter.
When summer shows up, enjoy it! Enjoy summer, because fall comes to us when we
least expect it. After summer's relaxation, we must reflect. Fall is a time to
gain new perspective; a time to be grateful and count our blessings. The bottom
line: live life fully through all the seasons and make the most of what God has
given you. LET'S LIVE LIKE WE ARE CONNECTED TO THE SOURCE. This is Tuesday
talk--I hope you heard me.
© 2010 Theda Okona All Rights Reserved