Seasonal Musing

It’s the Winter Season. Woolly hats and gloves have come out, daylight hours are shorter and round-the-year sea-swimmers appear more bonkers…

It’s the Christmas season. On Saturday it was the Colchester Santa Fun Run… in Lowestoft there was a Christmas market with Christmas music played and performed.

‘‘Tis the season to be jolly’ the carol tells us. ‘Tis also the season for me to say ‘Bah humbug!’

Life’s seasons… I’ve had different seasons… as a student, youth leader, athlete, young parent, gym-member, teacher…

There are the wise words from Ecclesiastes ‘To everything there is a season and time for every purpose under heaven’. I sometimes go through the list and muse, recalling seasons I’ve been through.

Varying Seasons… I really appreciate living in this corner of England where we enjoy sunshine, wind, rain, frost, warmth, cold…

Some friends are going through joyful seasons – family times, the Christmas party or pantomime… some are in a busy season – imminent exams, long hours at work, family members requiring constant care… some are in a tough season – living with sickness, paying off debts, broken relationships…    

Parallel seasons… We can go through different, often conflicting seasons at the same time…

Some friends enjoy taking a break from work, but are simultaneously anxious about future developments… some are pleased to go to Carol Services, but miss the past, forgotten traditions… some enjoy sharing Christmas with loved and loving family members, but will desperately miss the one who’s no longer with them…

Ending seasons… My friend David retired last week… Wayne came out of hospital after a significant stay… Will says he’ll never drink again… Many of my seasons have ended… marathon running, teaching, having parents…

This morning I read St Paul’s words. ‘I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.’  

Seasons may merge into each other or occur simultaneously. Others, like David’s working life, Wayne’s hospital stay, Will’s drinking – and the Santa Fun Run – need to finish well.