A Time for Everything

I was talking to a best friend this morning about the fact that sometimes I find that more athiests or agnostics, non-believers of practiced religion, etc, know more about what is written in the Bible than some Christians do. This is not a slam against Christians at all, don't misunderstand. It's just interesting. I mean if you're going to be a good atheist, why not study what is written to make a sound decision on where you stand in the religious world. One friend told me once that he wasn't sure what he believed, regarding God and the holy spirit. But he did say that he believed in a higher power. This same person reads the bible. I liked knowing that he, and others I know, are interested enough to see what is in there. It just showed me that they are intelligent people, these seekers of knowledge. Instead of stating these beliefs because they think it's the cool or "in" thing to do, they go to what is available to them for research.

I'm not going to get too deep into where I stand on this subject, other than I was raised a Baptist in a small town in Missouri. What I was taught since as far back as I can remember, is that there is a heaven and God does exist, and so does his Son. Let me say frankly, that the first time I encountered loss I was glad to know the things I have been taught most of my life. And believe them I do, today. Not just when I encounter loss. When I encounter every thing.

Perfect timing. Is there such a thing? I believe there is.

Ecclesiastes 3
A Time for Everything
1 There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:

There is a time and place for everything. I think we lose sight of the right time during certain points of our lives. Regardless, the right time is there. I hope I can always recognize it, and if I don't, I hope I learn for the next opportunity.
2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,

My mom always told me that our day was written down. When we leave this earth. In knowing this, I don't want to know when my day is. I just want to live life as full as I possibly can. I've fallen short lately. That archeological dig of my soul I mentioned two posts ago, it's ongoing and the deeper I dig the more revelation I find. I think that my dig may never actually end, but right now it's intense. I hope when I near the less intense side, I can plant, and know if I need to uproot anything I've planted that isn't good for me. I want the soil to be rich in texture, and moist, and ready for new growth. If weeding becomes necessary, I'll put on gloves, put my hair up, and whack away.
3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,

Oh do we really have to kill? Yes we do, said the men standing in Germany, or Vietnam, Iraq..... that just got bombed within five feet of their base. What choice did they have? I hope the men that got to come home were able to heal from those terrible experiences.
A time to tear down and build. Katrina comes to mind, to name one example where this thought came to me. That hurricane obviously had a place in our history, unfortunately. But it's time to rebuild, and I think it's going well in New Orleans from what I read and hear on the news.
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,

I used to think something was seriously wrong with me because I didn't cry very much. I thought, am I heartless, or unfeeling? I laugh a LOT. It's a huge part of who I am, I've always been this way. It's not as though I haven't had some very sad things happen in my life so far, I have. It was during those times that I learned I most definitely was not unfeeling, because the tears fell, one by one, until they couldn't form themselves anymore. There is, of course, a time to mourn. I wish we didn't need this time. But it is necessary for healing.
But that time to dance? That's where you'll find me most of the time.

5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

When I read scattering stones I immediately thought of scattering ideas to the wind. Throw out your thoughts, hopes, dreams! Why not? I say go for it. Say them out loud even. Gathering thoughts is something I do every day, especially when I'm thinking a little too much. I try not to be an overthinker, but it grabs me by the hand and tugs, and sometimes I walk with it.
Can you tell when someone needs a hug? I usually can, especially if I know the person well. Some people don't want strangers to hug them, I totally get that, and may even fall in that category myself. But I'm a hugger, as long as I'm sure that it's not time to refrain from doing so.
6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,

Searching. A quest often begins without us realizing we're looking for something. Some would say there is never a time to give up, depending upon what you're searching for. If it's a first edition copy of "Love in the Time of Cholera" (the first person that gets this movie reference wins a free pass for breakfast at tiffanys) would you ever tire of stopping in book stores to see if they had it? I wouldn't. A cure for cancer? They better never stop looking for this, I will lose all hope in mankind if they do. An end to poverty....the list goes on. But if you find yourself searching for something that you know deep down may not ever come to fruition, something more personal, it's important to recognize when to give up and move on. You'll know, I have faith in you.
I have countless "times to keep" stored in photo boxes, albums, journals, and my heart. Even if it's a goosebump moment, that can only be stored in your mind, because it's uncapturable by camera or written word, you will still always keep it with you. The other side of this is, if there is a bad memory, of something that causes you pain, try, very hard, to let it go. Someone in your life that is not good for you, the same. Let them go. Someone that you are hurting, and they don't deserve your actions towards them, let them go too. It's the only way to grow, do the right thing, and become a better person not only for them, but for you.

7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,

My high school boyfriend was obsessed with lifting weights. He explained to me that the muscle tears when he's lifting, and then gets bigger when it mends. If his goal is to have huge biceps, that tearing and mending is important. I can apply this to things I've gone through in my life that haven't been pleasant. I was torn during those times, but I grew better when I mended, all the while learning lessons.
When I was in grade school I think my teachers thought I was mute. I'm half kidding here. I just didn't say very much, I was a very quiet student. My friends will tell you that I am obviously making up for that now, because I am here to tell you, I can babble on incessantly. Trust me on this. I like to talk. But I also know when to keep still, and listen.
8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

I think the time to love is yesterday, today, tomorrow, and forevermore. Love is all we need, the Beatles sing so. All kinds of love. In as much abundance as we can muster. I struggle with a time for hate, but I suppose this does ring true. I hate diseases that we don't have cures for. I hate drugs that get sold to kids on the streets of cities where they know no better, or do know better but choose the wrong path anyway. I hate poverty, and homelessness, and the job market hitting an all time low. But I've always thought that hate takes just as much emotion and energy, if not more, than love. So I don't waste hate towards people. It's simply not worth it.
I know war is probably necessary. I wont bury my head in the sand. But oh that peace, that's what I really wish for. I don't like war. I don't like young adults coming home to their parents, in a coffin. But let me be very clear. I support our troops, and have an immense respect for our military.

Perfect timing. I will never think this doesn't exist. It's there for the taking, and will mesh things together when you're least expecting it. But, I also think it may need a helping hand once in a while.

“You cannot afford to wait for perfect conditions. Goal setting is often a matter of balancing timing against available resources. Opportunities are easily lost while waiting for perfect conditions.” -Gary Ryan Blair

Tomorrow is the perfect time for eggs benedict. Trust me!

See you then,
Tiffany