Times and Seasons

Queen Esther had a moment in time where she had clarity of mind to see clearly and understand fully that "for such a time as this" she needed to decide on a certain course of action. In so doing, she saved a Nation from destruction, indeed, her own people. Bible stories, looking back on history, constantly encourage us to trust that "God holds our times in His hands".

I have been thinking a lot about time in recent days, having made a decision to retire at the end of this term from forty years of teaching. What an immeasurable comfort to know my times are in His hands.

 I wrote an e-mail to the twenty or so PE staff who have been my comrades for many years at Pembroke School, sharing my thoughts and struggles associated with the notion of retirement. I share below, in part, the message sent to my fellow teachers:

"Just to let you know, I'm leaving/retiring at the end of the term.

It's just that my time has come.

Woke up in the middle of the night a little while ago and jotted down my thoughts. It's not a poem; just words that mean something to me.

Time takes no prisoners. 

Everybody has their time. 

Time to grow and time to slow, 

Time to walk in through the door and time to leave through that same door. 

We watch as time is up for others, we say our goodbyes, and go right on. 

Now, it is my time, after 38 years, to leave.

Just like yesterday I walked in, and seemingly so quickly, it's time to go.

My life changes irrevocably from this moment on, not so much for you who remain. 

Momentous for me, because it is more than just a workplace I am leaving. I leave behind people, their personalities, laughter, stories, their lives. 

What a loss occurs when it's your time. I already feel it when contemplating my immediate future. 

Everyone in our Department matters to me. I think of you all fondly and often. I wish for you as a group further joy, laughter and purpose in this workplace. 

As I leave the door from which I entered, I say goodbye to the most fabulous group of friends and professionals."

 Recently I have been further encouraged to think about "the times" in which we live, by a conversation with a fellow teacher who miraculously recovered from a near death experience. In trying to encourage her she became the agent of encouragement. She simply shared that she now has a new capacity to see each day as beautiful, full of opportunity and gratitude. How important that we each gain clarity and understanding for each and every day. In the now time in which we live, and, in the time, yet to come, we might increasingly live out our lives faithfully, graciously and perhaps in a measure, gloriously.

We all desire purpose in our lives. It is the time we have in the now which needs to be lived. Grasp this moment, act now, for our "times are truly in His Hands".

In His hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.

Job 12:10

My times are in Your hands; deliver me from the hands of my enemies, from those who pursue me. Psalm 31:15

Our lives are in His hands, and He keeps our feet from stumbling.

Psalm 66:9

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the sun. Ecclesiastes 3:1