For Everything… A Season

SAT., SEPT. 16, 1995, 7:35 AM
FARM, STUDY

Both you and I identify the words in this title, of course, with this favorite Old Testament book, Ecclesiastes. For many Christians, particularly Americans, it is not a favorite, for it seems way too negative… and does not uphold the work ethic as ultimately worthwhile. (I’ll be here when you return. 7:43 / 2:06 pm). Yet there is an ultimate wisdom that I want you to have. Hence, here We are, ready to start again. Remember, Our Way is that if you start a Teaching… even writing down the date… you must finish it. Why? That’s just the way it is, because I want it.

Consider this interpretation of these first chapters of Ecclesiastes. The earth scene offers many opportunities for what should feel like satisfactions… for this life should be satisfying, now shouldn’t it!? Then there is the temptation to judge these, after some time, and become disappointed in, or even cynical about, the results. Education leads to knowledge, and knowledge suggest a variety of ways to satisfaction and happiness. Or… knowledge can lead to frustration in that it does not identify ways to real happiness. Too many choices. What could be better? When will satisfaction come? What will it feel like?

These passages conclude with enjoying what you eat and drink, along with the work that you do. Let Me expand this. If you have a closer relationship with Me and give Me credit for all of the opportunities that you have, then everything, in its season, should bring happiness and satisfaction. Walking down to the mailbox with your dog, and then back, should be a warm, satisfying experience. Walking into a class, prepared, conducting the class, and reflecting on it afterwards, all should be satisfying. Reading these papers that students write can be even exhilarating, even as you read of sad experiences.

Yesterday you swept a portion of the basement, as well as the deck. These were experiences to appreciate, in the doing and in the result. You are disappointed in your garden this year… and also your roses. While you can look forward to more success next year you can appreciate what has come forth… like one beautiful rose this morning. You can anticipate improvements in many areas of life, but don’t let these take the place of joy in what you have accomplished.

Early in your life and in your professional career you had aspirations. You wanted to be a successful (meaning winning) coach. You wanted to become a dean…and then a professor. You would have liked to have been better known and more successful than you were. Yet you heard Me telling you, even before these direct Teachings, that you and I were in this life together, and I would guide you as I wanted you to go. There was some struggle with this, but basically you accepted that you should enjoy life as you have it, for it is of Me.

Now I realize that your satisfactions could be greater if you could more easily share what I have taught you about life with more people. The season for this is soon coming… a season of telling more folks, even some students, about Our relationship and about the need to be happily satisfied with whatever it is yours to experience.

What about your nerve damage disability? It would be good to recover full function and feeling of that foot (or feet), but you can feel much pleasure in what you still are able to do. The last time you had pain that prevented sleep as you expected you did better in accepting that as another, somewhat more odd, gift from Me. When you came for a Teaching rather than struggling with sleep I was pleased… and so were you.