I had one of those “moments” this past week when two things converged. First, we experienced in our area the first cool week of fall weather announcing that summer is coming to an end. By the way, I love the cool fall days! Second, in the Trout Unlimited Community Newsfeed, someone posted dates for the close of the Wisconsin (Driftless Area) trout season which is Oct 15th this year. Ouch! I hate acknowledging that ending date. The Driftless would be considered one of my “home waters” and I felt the sting of a change in seasons. While I was scouring the calendar to see when I could fish again before Oct 15th, something unexpected entered my heart and mind. It was gratitude and praise.
I paused and reflected on this past year and all the great opportunities I had to fish, be with people, enjoy nature, rest, and quiet my own soul. I am grateful for this past (fishing) season. I also found myself praising God and marveling at His creation. Have you ever noticed how God has designed creation to work in harmony from season to season? No better sport than fly fishing to reveal the intricacies in hatches, feeding patterns, temperature impacts, and so many other factors, all working together in one great canvas of beauty, art, and rhythm.
I am reminded of these realities from Scriptures like Job 12:7-10, “Just ask the animals, and they will teach you. Ask the birds of the sky, and they will tell you. Speak to the earth, and it will instruct you. Let the fish in the sea speak to you…For the life of every living thing is in his hand, and the breath of every human being.” Or consider Ecclesiastes 3:1 (actually 3:1-8 is worth reading) that says, “For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.”
As I reflected, I realized that it is not just creation that speaks to the changing of seasons but our very lives encounter season of change as well. Our lives bring milestone moments like births, weddings, graduations and more that launch us into new seasons of life. We also experience change through shift in life and other life experiences like careers, growing older, health changes, crisis moments, and many others. Some of these changes of seasons are exciting, bringing hope and joy while other changes bring seasons to a close–and some of them are very difficult. Think about the seasons of your life.
What I have learned, and what my “moment” triggered for me, was this: Transitions between seasons are very important times, and we need to pause long enough in our journeys to reflect, look for God, and rest in the moment before rushing ahead. May the changing of the seasons be a teacher for our transitions in life.
Journey well friends.
FOR REFLECTION
- What have been the season of life that have most shaped or formed your life (whether good of bad)?
- How would you describe your current season of life?
- How would you describe this season of faith and your relationship with God?
- Where do you see God working in your life (past or present)?
- What do you desire in this (or emerging) season of your life?
Eric Camfield | September 2019
