Too old to pioneer? Part 6

One of the joys of living in such a lovely rural location is seeing the beauty of each season unfolding on our doorstep.  Just as the carpets of snowdrops were beginning to fade, only a few months ago our lovely gardens were filled with daffodils heralding the spring.  The beech hedges were bare and brown, and blossom was just beginning to appear on the trees. 

The early spring bulbs gave way to bluebells, forget-me-nots and tulips, the hedges became bright green, and the shrubs and perennials began to burst into life.  Then apple blossom filled the orchard, clematis blooms cascaded over the arches, while rhododendrons and azaleas shone in the beds.  Now, as the lupins and poppies pop with colour, we can see the promise of the scent-laden roses and honeysuckles on the pergola and arches; and fruit and vegetables growing in the orchard and the beds, signalling a harvest to come.

 One season inevitably, sometimes almost imperceptibly, moves into the next, but each has its distinctive characteristics. We live expecting the seasons to change, trusting the promise God made to Noah:

‘As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.’ (Gen 8:22)

But it’s not just the physical seasons that change.  There are many seasons in our lives and we do well to recognise when the season is changing, whether it’s by natural progression as we grow older, by personal choice, by external circumstances, or by God calling us to something new.

In our previous blogs we’ve talked about the journey the Lord has taken us on, and some of the seasons he’s taken us through along the way.  As the Teacher wisely observed in Ecclesiastes 3, there’s a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens. 

While it’s important to embrace each season and discover what the Lord wants to impart in each one, it’s not in the heart of a pioneer to settle and become complacent.  As Christians it’s our duty to look for signs of spring even in the middle of winter - we should always be a season ahead.  It’s our responsibility to identify the opportunities God is bringing to our attention and seize hold of them.  There will be green shoots even in thick snow, doors opening when other doors are closing. 

God is always moving forward; he’s never stationary.  The challenge is to keep moving and to wholeheartedly partner with the next thing God is bringing to our attention.  Our heart should be like that of Paul who declared:

‘. . .forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead, I press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenwards in Christ Jesus’ (Phil 3:14)

 We encourage you to embrace all that the Lord has for you whatever season you’re in and be expectant for all that is to come.  There’s no age limit!

Whether your current season is full of joy or full of challenges, whether you’re between seasons or struggling to embrace the new season, some time out for family time, relaxation, prayer or a get-together in the serene setting of Canonbie Christian Retreat Centre may provide the opportunity you need.  It’s beautiful in every season!