October 29, 2009

There is a Season

Thank you for your compassion, sympathy, and caring comments and emails on my last two posts. I shared them with Kirsten’s husband John. You blessed him. And you blessed me.


Day and night.
Spring and fall.
Hello and goodbye.
Laughter and tears.
Love and loss.
Birth and death.

Life ebbs and flows. Bringing the good with the bad, the abundant with the lean. Giving and taking away. Again and again.

For better or worse, nothing remains the same.

Some moments/days/seasons shine in unending brilliance. Others bring storm after storm that drench/disorient/destroy. Some people get more of one than the other, without explanation or fairness. I don’t know why, I just know that it is.

This weekend I witnessed the highest highs and lowest lows. By Monday my insides felt buffeted and bruised, yet bolstered. My emotions stretched to their limits.

On Saturday we laid to rest our dear friend Kirsten. A blanket of grief covered the service and we all cried a river of tears. Our hearts breaking for her family, lost without their center. But the Spirit of God moved among us, bringing hope and peace despite the circumstances. I saw faith.

The next day Dan and I attended the wedding of friends—giddy in love with each other, but even more in love with Jesus. Their passion contagious to all who gathered. Family and friends sharing tears of joy. Parents saying goodbye. Young lovers starting anew. I saw hope.

On Monday, we welcomed a new little one into our family. The miracle of new life so perfect and pure. This sweet blessing from above bringing joy and hope and the promise of new beginnings. I saw love.

In three days, in the best and the worst, I saw our humanity intertwined with the divine. I felt the touch of the Almighty.

You and I are part of something much larger than ourselves. We journey together, connected by hearts and history and happenstance. Life ebbs and flows, sometimes seeming random, chaotic, unfair, lucky or fated. But as the Bible says,
“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-9)
Even though we cannot fully understand God’s ways or timing, it doesn’t make His plans any less perfect. Or His presence any less real. In every time there is love—from our heavenly Father and from one another. One day the tides of life will end and El Roi, the God who sees, will wipe the tears from our eyes. “There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Rev. 21:4)

Life ebbs and flows, and love holds it together.

14 comments:

Kathleen said...

In both beautiful and mystifying ways, life is truly a journey.

I enjoy how you've captured the essence of God's mysterious ways by sharing your heart. May He comfort you as only He can.

My condolences and hugs,
Kathleen

Julie Gillies said...

A beautiful, heartfelt post, Kelli. I wish we didn't have so many tears along the journey. I know God stores our tears and sometimes think there is an entire river up there that's all from me.

I love the photo you chose, it's so beautiful and peaceful.

Thank you for all the sweet, encouraging comments you regularly leave me, Kelli. You are a tremendous blessing to me!

P.S. After snippy, you'd better just run! (hee hee)

Cheryl Barker said...

What an emotion-packed weekend you had, Kelli. In the midst of your sadness, I'm thankful you got to experience the joy of the wedding and the birth of the baby. What a tender, loving Father we have... Blessings to you, friend!

Analisa said...

What a weekend.I see you are holding on to the faith of God's unfailing love. Blessings and peace on all your friends and family.
Thank you for sharing.

Peggy said...

Thank you Kelli...
You always find the right words and thoughts to say, that we all have, but don't know how to experss.
The love and grace you experienced stayed with you even into today.
You and Christine showered true love and blessings yesterday with your visit.
Thank you dear friend, may God continue to fill you with such a wonderful, beautiful spirit.
Blessings and Love....Peggy

Laura said...

Kelli,

This post makes me cry.

Seasons. They always take me by surprise. For good or for ill.

Bless you for all you gave to your sweet friends in loss and celebration.

Saleslady371 said...

The Ecclesiastes scripture is profound. It comforts me to know seasons are just that, seasons. So in the hard times, I know it won't always be difficult.

Hugs,
Mary

Eileen Astels Watson said...

Man, you were put through the gammut of emotions weren't you! I'm so sorry for your loss, so greatful for new beginnings in marriage and in life, and so very Thankful that God is with us through it all!!!

elaine @ peace for the journey said...

Kelli:

Over the past two years, I have sat bedside with 3 friends in their final hours on this earth--all of them dying from cancer... all of them living with Jesus when they finally moved into their final rest with him.

It is both a privilege and a pain to walk these days with those we love. Privilege because of the sacred nature of the moment; painful for the same reasons.

This shapes us, brings perspective, and enlivens our pulse for the "seasons" that remain. How I pray to walk them well and with the lengthened vision that focus my heart and my steps on the fact of God's forever.

You are a good friend to many and have undoubtedly shared that love in a way that brings precious comfort to this family. You're also a good mother and wife, and what you've walked through with all your varying emotions makes you a fuller, healthier person so as to better "wear" all your many hats.

Thank you for sharing your heat here. I understand a bit of where you're at with this.

peace~elaine

Tea with Tiffany said...

You wrote a beautiful post. Full of beauty, full of hope. Thank you. I find refreshment in the truth here. May God continue to reveal more and more of Himself to you.

I'm sorry for your loss.

Hugs and love,

Tiffany

Kelly said...

you were, most definitely, exposed to all of the extremes that weekend. I can see why you felt your emotions were stretched.

I agree, we are all a part of something so much bigger than we can even begin to comprehend.

I love the last line, "Life ebbs and flows, and love holds it together".

You are so poetic and truthful.

Jody Hedlund said...

Oh Kelli,
You summarized the cycle of life so beautifully! Beauty and pain intertwined.

Runner Mom said...

Just beautiful. Thank you sweet friend for sharing with us. You've been in my thoughts and prayers.
Love you!
Susan

Terri Tiffany said...

You went through some highs and lows in a short time and you could see God in each of them. Again, I am so sorry for your friend. It isn't easy ever to lose someone but it is harder when they are young. He will need all of you so much in the coming year.