Ecclesiastes 3: 1-2: For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die: a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted…. [Revised Standard translation]
BIBLICAL COMMENTS
There are a number of books in the Bible that some have labeled “wisdom literature.” These books include the Book of Job, Psalms, the Book of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes. The word “Ecclesiastes” is a Latin transliteration* of the Greek translation of the Hebrew word “Koheleth.” “Koheleth” means “Gatherer” but is traditionally translated as “Teacher” or “Preacher.” See, www.wikipedia.com.
In Ecclesiastes 1:1, the Kohleleth or Preacher/Teacher identifies himself as the son of David, Solomon. The “words” of the text are in the form of an autobiographical narrative. The subject matter appears to be “the meaning of life.”
According to The Koheleth, everything has a season or a time.
After considering the seasons and many things about human life—birth, death, the search for wisdom, the desire for advancement, the vanity of wealth and honor, the attempts to please our appetite for things, the Koheleth gives us his conclusions about “the whole matter:”
Fear GOD, and keep HIS commandments….
Ecclesiastes 1:13. Why? Because only GOD remains the same.
We can find comfort and hope in knowing that GOD IS-- the same—yesterday, today and tomorrow and that GOD is in control.
*A transliteration is a conversion of a word or text from one script to the alphabet of another script.
SEASONAL EATING
Some of the best chefs at the best restaurants cook and eat seasonally. Many chefs grow their own foods at nearby gardens where the foods can be easily harvested. One reason some of the “best” restaurants have seasonal foods is because fresh foods (seasonal foods) just taste better. Eating fresh fruit or vegetables is also more nutritious.
Instead of eating foods that have been shipped thousands of miles away, which have to be packaged, sometimes chemically processed and stored to prevent damage, by eating fresh food, the time from harvest to your plate can be hours or a few days, as opposed to weeks or months.
By eating seasonally and buying locally, we help support our local economy (and local farmers) and reduce our environmental “footprint” since less (transportation) fuel is used in the shipping process.
You can also find that you can stretch your dollar shopping at a local farmer’s market, especially when the market is about to close and the merchants are eager to bargain so that they don’t have to transport produce back home.
Eating as the seasons change can be a learning, nutritious and healthy experience! However, other seasonal changes can be difficult.
OTHER SEASONAL CHANGES (e.g. CLIMATE CHANGE)
FIRE SEASON
Some areas of the country/world are experiencing drought, dry vegetation and an increased number of fires. Climate change has introduced a new summer fire season, in addition to our usual Santa Ana wind fire season, which is typically from October through April. As effects of climate change continue, it has suggested that the fire season in California and other parts of the world may become “all year round.” In California and other regions where fires are prevalent, people are asked to plan ahead and think about what they might do if a fire occurred near them. They are asked to put together a plan or a checklist. A few of the items mentioned on many of the checklists include: (1) Having an evacuation plan; (2) Keeping an emergency supply kit in a vehicle.
See, www.readyforwildfire.org/docs/files/File/calfire_go_brochure_LINOweb.pdf.
Some lists ask you to consider the 5 P’s: People (remember people first); Prescriptions (list of prescriptions with dosages, eyeglasses, medicines, hearing aids); Papers (important documents saved externally on a hard drive or a thumb drive); Personal Needs
(clothing, food, water, hygiene items, chargers); Priceless items (e.g. pictures, irreplaceable things). See. www.fema.gov/media-library-data/1409003859391-0e8ad1ed42c129f11fbc23d008d1ee85/how_to_prepare_wildfire_033014_508.pdf.
HURRICANE SEASON
Other areas of the country and world are experiencing hurricanes. Supposedly, the Atlantic hurricane season starts on June 1st and ends November 30th. The Eastern Pacific hurricane season begins May 15th and ends November 30th. But, despite these “official start and end dates,” storms can occur year round. Those living in hurricane regions are told to prepare and plan. There are a number of hurricane preparedness checklists. Some of those lists include important emergency numbers:
American Red Cross: 1-866-438-4638; RedCross.org
FEMA: 1-800-525-0321; Fema.gov
Some of the lists suggest having key emergency supplies readily available (e.g. water, first aid kit, 1 flashlight per family member, toilet supplies and garbage bags, etc.). See, www.redcross.org/content/dam/redcross/atg/PDF_s/Preparedness___Disaster_Recovery/Disaster_Preparedness/Hurricane/Hurricane.pdf
Whether it is a meal, a routine daily event, a life-changing event, or a possible natural disaster, planning is important. Prepare to plan before, during and after the event.
TOP EVERY PREPARATION LIST WITH PRAYER TO GOD
Pray for everyone’s preparation. Pray that at the top of every preparation list is another “P,” a prayer to an unchanging, loving, omnipotent GOD. Just as a parent’s prayer protects and connects a child to GOD before the child may even have an understanding of who GOD is, so our prayers connect ourselves and others to GOD too.
Pray for those who are in hurricane season now, or about to enter hurricane season, or are still trying to get over past hurricanes. Please pray for those who have been through the fires, those sitting on the edges of fires or who are still trying to recover from past fires.
Please pray that when everything changes, when nothing looks or remains the same, that we all remember that GOD IS STILL GOD. Pray, we remember Psalms 46:
- GOD is our refuge and our strength; [Psalms 46:1];
- [T]hough the earth should change...mountains shake…oceans roar and foam…GOD is [still there] in the midst; [Psalms 46:2-5]
- Even if nations rant and rave...THE LORD ALMIGHTY is with us. Psalms 46:6-7]
Let us eat seasonally. Let us pray joyfully, both in and out of seasons.
Be assured that GOD IS and BE BLESSED!
