“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens…He has made everything beautiful in its time.” – Ecclesiastes 3:1 & 8

As we rapidly move from winter into spring, with the flowers blossoming and the temperature warming, it is worth noting the purpose behind the cyclic nature of life. For Newington boys, the winter sports season has come to a hasty end; the football posts have been removed and the cricket nets and pitches have been installed. As we savour the successes, the defeats and the memories of a competitive winter sporting season, our attention rapidly shifts to a new season packed with new experiences, new challenges and new outcomes.

Seasons of life have a purpose. The passage from Chapter 3 of the Book of Ecclesiastes suggests that it is God’s intention to allow us to go through contrasting times in our life, including heartache and setbacks, as what we can learn through the various challenges we face is critical in shaping our character and essential in shaping our values; who we are and what we stand for. Take trees, flowers and fruit for example; they all start as sprouts nestled in the dirt – yes the dirt. When we excuse the dirt and mess that we go through in life as simply being bad, we dismiss the platform that ensures we ‘sprout forth’ all the good that can come from such seasons. We will do well to embrace each season as a stepping stone toward living life to the full.

Each season brings new opportunities. We can often sit around waiting for a particular season to pass, waiting for another to come, and in the process miss the magic that is within each season. Cold and bitter times in life help us to seek the warmth that comes from those who are wanting to love. Such seasons also help inspire us to put our hope in what will protect us from the winds of despair.

During seasons of illness and injury, we are reminded that we are made to heal, that we are by nature broken and need fixing. Such seasons also provide the necessary platform in learning to be compassionate, empathetic and understanding toward those who will one day experience similar seasons. As much as we would rather avoid such a season, we are reminded that is just that…a season.

There are also seasons of privilege and untold blessing that we can quite easily fail to embrace. Each day as the staff and boys make their way through the Millner Gates, down Memorial Drive into the College, there is so much to be thankful and praise God for. What an honour it is to be part of a community that is rich in values and history, whose educators, sports coaches, music tutors, pastoral mentors and staff alike, care about the development and well being of each of the boys. Even through the more challenging seasons we face, if we honour and respect each season for what it brings, we will grow in wisdom and be enriched in so many ways.

What season of life would you say you are in?  How can you honour and respect that season?  What wisdom do you need in order to grow during this phase of your life?

Reverend Geordie Barham
College Chaplain