There is an occasion for everything,
and a time for every activity under heaven:
a time to give birth and a time to die;
a time to plant and a time to uproot;
a time to kill and a time to heal;
a time to tear down and a time to build;
a time to weep and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn and a time to dance;
a time to throw stones and a time to gather stones;
a time to embrace and a time to avoid embracing;
a time to search and a time to count as lost;
a time to keep and a time to throw away;
a time to tear and a time to sew;
a time to be silent and a time to speak;
a time to love and a time to hate;
a time for war and a time for peace.
[Ecclesiastes 3:1–8]

“What is time, anyway?” My 95-year-old mother asked that as we were marveling at all she has experienced in her many years. My friend John, who sometimes lectures me about quantum physics until my eyes start glazing over, talks about Einstein and the principles of time. Huh?

Solomon’s poem above reminds us of the mystery of time. As he writes about the patterns, the ebb and flow of time, he simply observes all the things that inevitably show up in life. Invited or not. Part of the riddle of life—the theme of the book.

Even though we might not want to or be called to experience everything in his list (birth/death, love/hate, kill/heal, war/peace), they are part of the mysterious realities of life and time.

Like Ecclesiastes itself, the poem is really about the unsolvable mystery of life and the beautiful sovereignty of God. And though I may choose some activities and not others, in the end, I really don’t have a lot of say, do I?

And so, like with time, all of life ought to be received joyfully and appropriately as a gift from God’s hand. For the conclusion of the matter is this: fear God and keep his commands, because this is for all humanity. For God will bring every act to judgment, including every hidden thing, whether good or evil. [Eccl. 12:13–14]

For your Tuesday Afternoon reading accompaniment
Here’s a classic rendition of Ecclesiastes 3 and the seasons of life by the Byrds: “Turn, Turn Turn.”

A time to go out and a time to stay inside
Aside from the COVID season, Sunday was the first time in some 41 years of pastoring that I canceled worship services due to weather. My friend said I must be getting old. (Or finally wise :). Where did you spend your Sunday? Were you completely snowed in?

Nearly 200 million people across almost 40 states were under winter alerts over the weekend. More than 800,000 customers lost power. Supposedly Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas were the hardest hit. I think my daughter in Cincinnati got it worse than we did in Cleveland. (Though we got about a foot or so of snow!)

The storm also caused more than 10,000 flight cancellations across the country, the most in a single day since the COVID days. At least 1,800 flights were canceled for Monday (yesterday).

So, Sue and I hunkered down. Got a little work done. Watched a little Australian Open tennis and a bit of the NFL Conference finals. Oh yeah, and we binge watched an Amazon series on the Medici family of Florence.

A time to mourn
…for another person killed in the streets of Minneapolis, after yet another fatal shooting there. This time it was an ICU nurse at a VA hospital. Thirty-seven-year-old Alex Pretti was an American citizen who was filming ICE officers and then tried to assist a woman who was knocked to the ground. After being pepper sprayed, videos show Pretti being dragged to the ground and beaten up before being shot ten times by ICE agents. May his family and colleagues know the Lord’s comfort and peace in these days as they mourn their tragic loss.

…for our country. The violence and division and anger in our land is at an all-time high in my lifetime. Between authoritarian rhetoric to non-stop media that fuels the fire with misinformation, we are an angry and confused people. I would hope that whichever political aisle someone stands in, they would rise above the blinding anger and partisanship to embrace the common values and moral high ground that America used to be known for. I am afraid we have forgotten the words of President Abraham Lincoln (who was paraphrasing our Lord Jesus): “A country divided against itself cannot stand.”

A time to heal and a time to pray
I was told about Dr. Rachel Darling, a young physician in Minneapolis. Here are her words:

“‘How are you?’ people ask me, but it’s their reactions that are telling:

‘ICE didn’t leave after they killed that woman?’ or ‘Well, if Minnesotans would just respect law enforcement this wouldn’t be happening.’

‘How do you continue to treat your patients without bias,’ I am asked?

In my practice, I choose to follow the oath I swore when I donned my first white coat and I strive to not allow any biases to get in the way.

Here is an excerpt of the oath:

‘The health and well-being will be my first consideration; I will not permit considerations of age, disease or disability, creed, ethnic origin, gender, nationality, political affiliation, race, sexual orientation, social standing or any other factor to intervene between my duty and my patient…’

How am I responding as a Christian?

I will strive to respond with love and not hate. I will continue to serve my neighbors who need assistance even if I’m threatened and followed by ICE. I will spread truth and not rumors or lies. I will pray that men and women in leadership will rise up and put a stop to the inhumane treatment of my neighbors of color and end this military-like occupation. I will maintain hope that my fellow Americans will reconsider what they are hearing by different factions, seek the truth, and remember the call to love the foreigner residing among you as you love yourself (paraphrase Leviticus 19:33-34).”

A biblical prayer: From my fellow blogger at “The Pour Over”
Good Shepherd, we come to You in a dark valley; lead us beside quiet waters and still our burdened souls. With your goodness and mercy, relentlessly pursue those who are mourning. Lead law enforcement in paths of righteousness, that they will be fearless when confronting wolves but discerning and gentle when they meet lambs. 

Still the anxiety, anger, and fear in Minneapolis and across the country. Give investigators insight and give courts discernment and grow Your people’s faith that You will soon right every wrong. May we be beacons of light and hope while we wait on You. Amen. (Scriptural basis: Psalm 23)

A time to keep and a time to throw away
In case you missed it, Open AI CEO Sam Altman announced that his AI/ChatGPT will be open for porn business: “In December, as we roll out age-gating more fully and as part of our ‘treat adult users like adults’ principle, we will allow even more, like erotica for verified adults.”

One of my favorite thinkers and contemporary theologians responds quite pointedly:

“My word of rebuke to Sam Altman and other AI entrepreneurs is, “You have created one of the amazing technological advances in human civilization, so why soil your work, why add to the dumpster fire of human depravity, by turning yourself into a tech pimp and transforming your tech company into another online internet brothel?”

A time to watch
Looks like there’s a potential for another binge-watching session as David Henrie takes viewers on a spiritual journey through Italy in his new series, Seeking Beauty. Henrie explores how art and architecture reflect divine beauty.

A time to speak and a time to listen
“Our Christian hope is that we are going to live with Christ in a new earth, where there is not only no more death, but where life is what it was always meant to be.” [Tim Keller]

“While proclaiming peace with your lips, be careful to have it even more fully in your heart.” [St. Francis of Assisi]

“The speed of communications is wondrous to behold. It is also true that speed can multiply the distribution of information that we know to be untrue.” [Edward R. Murrow]

“As a nation we must come together in dialogue, turning away from dehumanizing rhetoric and acts which threaten human life. In this spirit, in unity with Pope Leo, it is important to proclaim, ‘Peace is built on respect for people.’” [United States Catholic Bishops’ President]

Our Tuesday Afternoon prayer
“Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.”
[Francis of Assisi]