Downtown's Soul Searching: There is a time...

Ecclesiastes 3

A Time for Everything

1 There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:
2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,

3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,

4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,

5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,

7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,

8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

I imagine most everyone, whether formed in a religion or not, has heard at least part of this scripture from Ecclesiastes.
It's been rolling around in my thoughts quite a bit, much like rocks in a tumbler hoping to come out polished.

Should we gather, or do we throw away?
Do we by pass or do we seek out?
Do we go, or do we stay?

When you belong to a family as large as I do...
And when you are as connected as we are...
These questions are more difficult to answer.

Our Adventure Trek 2010 has been such a gift and I feel so blessed to be sharing this time with my 3 youngest girls.
However, my mind is always turning back to Oregon and the family left behind.
I worry about them.

I know there is a time for every season.
And it feels like the right time to be here, to be on this trek to visit family & friends. But I continue to think, access, evaluate & pray about the big question...
when is it time for us to return?

Arriving here in Mission Kansas where the girls get to visit and reconnect with another sister and an Aunt was again, a joy filled reunion.

I sensed early into our arrival that the time we had initially planned here would be too short.
(I may not be very good at a lot of things but sharing life & relationships is something I seem to understand...most of the time)
I went to bed about 1:00am and the 4 sisters remained up talking, and laughing deep into the morning hours.
I decided last night that we will add another day to our stay here.
I know that is the right decision.
But the thoughts of home continue to tumble through my mind wondering...

When we move on to our next family destination I will have to evaluate the seasons again...
And trust that I will know whether we are to stay, or we are to go;
and for how long.

I have to trust that I have chosen well.
That in the end all the rocks selected for the tumbler are polished smooth to a beautiful shine, and the decisions I make
are the right ones for all and nothing crumbles or falls apart in the tumbling process.

The seasons...
There is a time for each one.
I am in Summer!

http://jbrownflash.blogspot.com/2010/01/seasons-of-life.html