Today’s scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:1-11 (NRSV) (The Message) (KJV)
As you read, consider: What might God be saying to me in this passage? Summarize your thoughts in a sentence or two.
My thoughts (Theresa Benson):
So, when I was single in Oregon, and trying to figure out how to date “as a grown up” (versus a college kid, where there were guys to meet in pretty much every class, or every Greek event), I came across a cleverly-titled book called, If the Buddha Dated.
One of the best pieces of advice that book gave me was “don’t be hung up on where it might go!” In other words, rather than going on that first date and then starting to imagine a whole life together, and would this guy be a good father to my children, and would my friends like him, etc., just enjoy the date for the date, and let the process unfold.
My best friend in California has a weekly podcast that I adore, and she signs off the same way every time:
“Show up,
Tell the truth,
Pay attention,
And don’t be attached to the outcome.”
And now here is one of my favorite scriptures, saying the same thing — “Everything is appropriate in its own time.” Seriously, I work daily on learning how to not be attached to making something happen a certain way just because I think it should happen that way. God has a plan, there’s a time for everything, and I need to enjoy this life God’s given me — and quit getting emotionally wrapped up in wanting something to turn out a certain way, and then being sorely disappointed when it doesn’t.
There will be a time to find, lose, keep and throw away. Don’t be hung up in forcing this time to be what you think it should be. Let God, who knows a heck of a lot more than any of us, make it the time it’s supposed to be, and let us, as my friend Robin says, show up and pay attention so we can enjoy this moment before we move on to the next.
Thought for the day: God, am I allowing You to move in this moment? Or am I just getting in the way?
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to start, consider the guidelines on the How to Pray page.