SEASONS OF BLUE

Have you ever noticed how the shade of blue the sky displays changes with the seasons?  The autumn sky displays a warm and crisp blue that fills my heart with joy.  My first child was born in September when the sky was a brilliant blue that not only welcomed the coming fall season, but it also created a beautiful backdrop for the arrival of my son!  During delivery, my focus was the small patch of blue sky that was peeking through the changing leaves of the maple tree directly outside my hospital window.  It was the most perfect awkward shaped focal point of the visible blue sky, and my wee little eye found it!  The blue faded after three unsuccessful attempts of pushing sequences that resulted in my body needing the assistance of my doctor.  The stress on both the baby and me prompted her to straddle me on the delivery table with forceps to aggressively usher his entry into this world.  Just as the seasons do not wait, neither did the arrival of my first child.  I entered a season of new life, motherhood, as the nurse laid this sweet baby boy in my arms.  The preparation for this very special day had been building up for nine months.  The days we walk lead to seasons of life that are timelessly true throughout all generations.

Seasons are time markers that have defined growing patterns, fisherman’s and huntsman’s approaches, building plans, and cultural celebrations since the beginning of time.  One common reference to seasons refers to the seasons of life.   Like becoming a new mother, there have been seasons of life I have weathered because it’s what you do as you live life.  We could make a long list of things that bring seasons throughout our life, but I think King Solomon, in all his wisdom,  summarized it best in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 when he said:

There’s a pattern that elicits control; this control should not be interfered with, for it would gravely disturb the flow of humanity.  Yet, as humans we’re always looking for a way to soothe the waxing and waning of the seasons to meet our own selfish desires.

The events that precede a life-changing season do not just coincidentally occur. They were known before time began for you and I, by the God of this universe!  He has orchestrated the greatest symphony ever with the best positioning of each of our lives so that the seasons come and go without missing a beat.  When I ponder the chain of events in my life from this vantage point, it brings peace and calm into the equation that ultimately says, “Lord, I trust You!”

Is control an area of your life that makes you feel challenged and discontent?  Do the seasons of life you face bring about feelings of hopelessness and anxiety?  If being in control is so much a part of your need to survive that you find yourself trying to force the events of life in the direction you want, I caution you to step back before you head straight into a wreck of epic proportions, and trust the God of all time to do what he needs to do.  Control is the lying whisper of false hope.  There is only one who is in control: God, the Maker of heaven and earth.  There is only one who gives self-control: the Holy Spirit of God.  

When life’s seasons throw you a curveball, instead of seeking to create a quick masterful plan, choose to listen to the “Best Coach” you’ll ever have, the Holy Spirit.  Now, embrace the power of the throw, knock it into the outfield, and run for home!  Keep your eyes focused on the next base, carefully listening for the coaches’ call to keep going or wait.  This is what the Holy Spirit does for us constantly;  He guides us.  We just need to listen.  We need to stop trying to conjure up plans and schemes to avoid pain or discomfort in the seasons of life.

My son, whom I mentioned in the beginning of this writing, was passionate about baseball.  Ironically, it would be the game that best parallels his life.  He was also nicknamed “Sunshine” because of the joy he brought as he entered a room.  Recently, while discussing professional  baseball and the needed changes to make the game fun again, he made a profound statement that put this issue of controlling the seasons of life into perspective.

“Thank you for kicking me out!  I know it was the hardest thing you had to do, but it was the best thing you could have done for me.”  He would go on to elaborate on this at his six-month graduation of living clean and sober, when he shared how control was something he thought he could manipulate for his gain, but really all it ever did was take him further away from peace.

My son spent ten years on the road of drugs and alcohol, stealing, pornography, lying habitually, and attempted suicide many times.  His “Sunshine” demeanor was covered by the dark oppressive clouds of lies and deceit.  Today, he is clean and sober because of the power of Christ in his life.  Control was an illusion of power that was never his.  Surrendering to God was the victory that brought him peace and contentment.   There is no more anxiety that leads him to manipulate the comings and goings of the seasons of life.   He shines again, this time with the overflow of Christ in him.  God works so that people will be in awe of Him (Ecclesiastes 3:14).

It is my prayer for you that you will release the reigns of control in your life for freedom in peacefully living by totally surrendering to the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the lordship of Jesus Christ in your life.

Joyfully Healing from the Inside Out,