That Familiar Old Sun

Last week I was reading the book of Ecclesiastes and noticed how the author-teacher of the verses seems to be almost disenchanted with the idea of the seasons. For him the regularity of them year after year is depressing as he ponders his place within the world and whether or not he has made a difference. For me, however, I see the seasons--especially at this time of year--as uplifting and confirming. It is wonderful to know always that spring is sure to follow winter in our lives. Metaphorically, there is no greater promise in life.

I am thinking of just two examples in our lives. The first is the long winter represented by our old house that we have been trying to sell for almost three years now. After being on the market for two six month periods and being rented for a year and one-half, we have received an offer on it. The offer came not from the diligent work of a realtor but from a remembered conversation of the past. We are cautiously optimistic but realize, with the market down from 30 to 40 per cent in this area, there is still summer to enter into likely before the offer closes.

A second example, of course, is that of our lives in general. As we age and as our lives move toward the finality that lies ahead of us, we begin to think more and more of the idea of resurrection. As with Jesus, whose death and resurrection we commemorate this Easter week, we are confident as Christians that an emerging eternal spring will follow winter.

Therefore, I would have to disagree with Solomon, seen by most biblical scholars as the author of the book of Ecclesiastes: the seasons bring us hope, joy, grace, and mercy in their regularity.