Turn, Turn, Turn.

Through the 1960s many artists recorded this Pete Seeger song:

To everything turn, turn, turn
There is a season turn, turn, turn
And a time to every purpose under heaven

A time to be born, a time to die
A time to plant, a time to reap
A time to kill, a time to heal
A time to laugh, a time to weep…

A time to build up, a time to break down
A time to dance, a time to mourn
A time to cast away stones
A time to gather stones together…

A time of love, a time of hate
A time of war, a time of peace
A time you may embrace
A time to refrain from embracing

A time to gain, a time to lose
A time to rend, a time to sew
A time for love, a time for hate
A time for peace, I swear it’s not too late

To everything turn, turn, turn
There is a season turn, turn, turn
And a time to every purpose under heaven

These words from Ecclesiastes seem particularly appropriate today on Palm Sunday, and we consider the events that will happen through to Easter Sunday. As we walk in Jesus’ footsteps we see the whole range of human experience…

…A time for love, a time for hate; a time of joy, a time of tears; a time for talk, a time for action; a time for justice, a time for forgiveness; a time for truth, a time for mercy; a time for togetherness, a time for scattering; a time of strength, a time of insecurity; a time of light, a time of darkness; a time for living, a time for dying, a time for living again…

These words are given context by the words that follow:

He has made everything beautiful in its time… Somehow, in the mystery of humanity, through the Jesus passion narrative, we see beauty in pain and despair, as through them we see healing and hope.

He has also set eternity in the human heart… I hear a truth-story that is much bigger than my tiny mind can understand or my tiny heart can embrace

Yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end… I see a God who, in Jesus, allows me a glimpse of his character and purposes.

My prayer is that this week, as I engage with the events of Holy Week, I shall see beauty, embrace eternity, and understand my God just a little better… to see more clearly, love more dearly, to follow more nearly…