The best things in life...

  "For everything there is a season,

    a time for every activity under heaven.

² 

A time to be born and a time to die.

    A time to plant and a time to harvest.

³ 

A time to kill and a time to heal.

    A time to tear down and a time to build up.

⁴ 

A time to cry and a time to laugh.

    A time to grieve and a time to dance.

⁵ 

A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.

    A time to embrace and a time to turn away.

⁶ 

A time to search and a time to quit searching.

    A time to keep and a time to throw away.

⁷ 

A time to tear and a time to mend.

    A time to be quiet and a time to speak.

⁸ 

A time to love and a time to hate.

    A time for war and a time for peace."*

A time to be quiet and a time to speak.... Can I say, thank you Readers!! I have had more than 1000 views of my blog! It's kind of exciting! (This is of course including my own views of my blog... Which is basically 1/5 of the total :p ). Thank you for giving me the chance to speak. I hope that in the process I will also know when to be quiet.

A time to search and a time to quit searching.... I am trying to find things to discuss that I think might be interesting but also meaningful to my Readers. I am also hoping to listen and learn from others. I am by no means the wisest person on the Internet, or whom has ever lived. But I have learnt one interesting thing from blogging, my ideas are more defined and structured, now that I have started blogging. I guess George Grant was right when he said:

"We listen to others to discover what we ourselves believe".**
I hope that by listening to me, your ideas on things have also developed.

A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones... Today I visited a pebble beach in the south of England. It was amazing, it just went on and on along the whole coast! There were a few people walking dogs in the nice 'spring-like' weather. Instead of sticks, the dogs fetched stones!!! :o 

A time to embrace and a time to turn away... In the last 3 months I have met some amazing people, but due to my moving around every few days, I have learnt that there truly is a time to embrace, and a time to turn (go) away. It's hard leaving behind new and old friends. But that is part of life, and hopefully we will one day meet again :)

A time to plant and a time to harvest... I think this can be taken as a investment in friendships. Sometimes we have to water, nurture and invest in friendships. And other times we can reap the rewards of sticking with each other. I hope that the connections I make and the post cards home are just a small investment to -hopefully- life long friendships!!

A time to cry and a time to laugh... These things we often do with people. I saw a billboard yesterday outside a church that said "the best things in life... Are not things!" I totally agree, people (not things) are so important to life, especially finding a community where you can safely cry and be vulnerable, and laugh and play. Friends who allow that are priceless! My Best Friend, Jesus, gives me at times unbelievable joy and peace, and other times comfort and soft words of encouragement.

There is a season for everything in life. Know that things won't last forever. But new things will always come. 

*Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
**George Grant (1918-)

reading is for everyone

"After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions."*

One day a while ago, sitting on a bus going into university, I was reading my Bible when a man sat next to me. Most days that is a common occurrence, but that day, instead of sitting in silence this stranger started talking to me, his opening line was priceless: "Are you studying to become the Pope?"

I found it funny for two reasons... one, I am a woman! second, more than just the Pope read the Bible!

I have just finished a week in a retreat called L'Abri** which is designed for anyone who is interested to sit down and read a few books and think about big topics, including what Christianity is all about and how it relates to everyday life. They have all sorts of books, on Christianity, culture, classics, children, church, and community, as well as many other topics!!

It was such a privilege to be able to sit down and have the freedom and time read and think, and discuss!

Maybe not everyone thinks reading is as enjoyable as i find it, but that doesn't mean it's not for you. There is much to be learned from books. And books shouldn't just be things for smart people, or rich people, or important people, or people in 'that field'... but for everyone and anyone!

But maybe we can only really get into reading if we have questions. At L'Abri everyone is encouraged to ask any and every question that they have. It is that freedom and openness to explore that I hope to continue for the rest of my life. Why are we afraid to ask questions? How much do we want questions solved? For me, an unanswered question hangs around my mind, until I give it the time it requires.

Conversations around a meal, or over a cup of tea, or on a walk are great for gaining perspective and sounding boards. But ultimately, I turn to books (or if it is possible, test it out in real life) to find a deeper understanding and answers to my questions.

"Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered."***

Who am I to think I've got it all answered? There are days I think I have answered all my questions, but tomorrow or the next day something always happens that makes me wonder about life's big questions. 

The quote at the top describes Jesus as a young teen seeking the opportunity to learn and find answers to his questions. Reading is for everyone! Ask questions, seek answers. 

"For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks find, and to the one who knocks it will be opened."****

*Luke 2:46
**http://www.labri.org/england/index.html 
***Proverbs 28:26
****Luke 11:10

Happy Here

"For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things."*

 

So much of life we spend looking forward to something. When we are at school it might be a favourite subject. When we are working Monday to Friday, we might look forward to the weekend. When we are at uni, we look forward to getting into the workforce. When we are in the workforce, we look forward to retirement, or annual holidays. When we are single, we look forward to marriage. When we are married, we loook forward to children. When we are travelling, we might look forward to the next destination.

 

The saying 'the grass is greener on the other side' does not mean that it actually is greener, more lush, restful, healthy.... Rather, I think, the saying highlights how unsatisfied we can be with what we have. This can be a materialistic longing. But in this post I also want to explore the idea of being satisfied where we are in time.

 

There is an ancient Jewish proverb:

"All the toil of man is for his mouth, yet his appetite is not satisfied."**

It is obvious to us that we have to eat several times a day to keep us going. In this day and age, we don't (just) work for our bread, but we still enjoy satisfying other desires, wants and needs. So often they do not satisfy... for long. Similarly, we seek to do things which will bring us the most happiness, or fun, or joy, or thrill! I have found that that is what travelling for fun is mostly about. Going to places I want to visit, eating the food I want to try, exploring the sights of cities that I find interesting. If I spend my time in one church, wondering what the next one will look like. Or being in a city, and wishing I was already in the next. Or staying in a hostel, and wishing I was in a home. Or re-packing my backpack and dreaming of my wardrobe... How am I satisfied? I can't even appreciate what is around me, and in the city, and part of the experience if I keep thinking of where else I could be... 

But truth be told, I really do miss my wardrobe, and wonder what is happening back home, and who I will meet next week... By myself, I cannot ever find lasting satisfaction. There is no person or place or thing that could completely satisfy me. There is only One who can satisfy, the living and good God. He can satisfy our hearts and minds, and fill our lives with so many good things!*

 

God does this in the form, and through, his Son Jesus, who offers water that will mean we will never be thirsty again! The Son of God promises that, "whever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."***

 

The Old Testament song of David, reminds us to remind ourselves that only this way can we be satisfied:

Bless the Lord, O my soul,  

and forget not all his benefits,  

who forgives all your iniquity,  

who heals all your diseases,  

who redeems your life from the pit,  

who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,  

who satisfies you with good  

so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.****

 

 

*Psalm 107:9

**Ecclesiastes 6:7

***John 4:13-14

****Psalm 103:2-5