A Time for Everything
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As a proponent of the new-thought movement, I usually do not read the Bible anymore, because I feel that the literal reading of the Bible, like the literal reading of any religious book, is what causes fanaticism and narrow-mindedness and ultimately negative feelings towards others who do not share in your world-view. However, there are a few passages which, if read carefully, do provide us with a glimpse of truth. This passage for me is sort of like watching the sun rise over the horizon. You don’t see the whole sun, but rather you see light as it emerges out of the darkness. This passage is from the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes (Verse #3) entitled “A Time for Everything”.
There is a time for everything.
There is also a season for every activity under heaven.
There is…
* a time to be born and a time to die.
* a time to plant and a time to uproot.
* a time to kill and a time to heal.
* a time to tear down and a time to build.
* a time to weep and a time to laugh.
* a time to mourn and a time to dance.
* a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them.
* a time to embrace and a time to refrain.
* a time to search and a time to give up.
* a time to keep and a time to throw away.
* a time to tear and a time to mend.
* a time to be silent and a time to speak.
* a time to love and a time to hate.
* a time for war and a time for peace.
The secret to living, I believe, is in knowing which of these is going on in our lives, and then acting and thinking appropriately. We need to live with awareness and this will help us choose the right action for the moment. It is hard to believe that this passage comes from the Bible, with all of its Old Testament horror stories. It seems more like a quotation from Buddha or Krishna. But indeed this comes from the Bible’s Old Testament. Let us affirm our individual commitments to a life of awareness so that we make the right choices as life’s circumstances change.
This way, we promote peace and goodwill at all times. Namaste, Keith
1 Comment
August 2nd, 2008 at 12:58 pm
It surprises me sometimes, when In read articles of “evolutionists” about how stupid the “creationists” are to believe in the old writings. And of course equally surprising its the venomenous fundamentalist opposition. They are both making me wonder, has humankind not learned anything at all from the mistakes of the past?
Has there been no progress at all in the manner and way of thinking. Should evolution only concern material organic life? Then what about the spiritual dimension? No evolution there? And where the “bible thumpers” are concerned, are they really convinced they are following the teachings of their Lord?
This is something I a far from having found a satisfying answer to and I am sure I have to do a lot more thinking about.
Here you have pointed to the fact, that we should be careful not to discard something solely because it is not part of our present set of beliefs.
Thanks for this, Keith
Namaste
George
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