Jimbo's Jots

“There is a time for everything,
    and a season for every activity under the heavens.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

While watching the morning news, the meteorologist said, “Meteorologically, we are now in the fall season.” He continued to say, “the fall season is September, October, November.” So, I’m thinking Winter is December, January, February, Spring, March, April, . . . you get the idea.

Some people measure the season in a different way. Starting late August through January is typically football season, Hockey and Basketball season is during the cold months, and then baseball starts in the spring and carries over through summer.

Still others measure the seasons by the their emotions. Emotions are finicky things. Our emotions can deceive us and create a sense of false anxiety. Now, emotions can get locked in to a specific event in life and what happens is it time stamps that event in our brain. It’s during this “season” of the event that we can be drawn back into the emotions connected to the event.

Let me explain: October 1, 1998 is a significant date as it was my first official date to start working with the Plymouth Church. So, for me, it was an exciting time of transition and I fondly recall that weekend. The church did a family camp at MCYC, so I got to spend a lot of time with the teens that weekend. However, for another family, it was the day the dad, a former elder at Plymouth, died at a young age due to cancer. When he passed, many in the Plymouth church mourned with this family. So, every October 1, I am mindful of the emotions connected with that date as I am mindful of my own joy and at that same time, mindful of this family.

The key to all of this is answering how we manage these seasons. Here are a couple of things to keep in mind as you learn to manage the emotional seasons you might experience:

• Time – they say time heals wounds. And it does! So, you will probably experience less emotional swings as the calendar marches on. So give yourself that time to experience those swings.
• People – first of all, let me say that no one knows exactly how you feel. However, their experience might be similar. Talking to people that have had similar seasons are a great way to help manage your own. Disclaimer: If you are a “helper”, it is sometimes best to just be there and not say anything, unless asked. Then just talk about how your own experience has shaped you.

Are you in a troubling season? Are you in a joyful season? Remember there is a season for everything!

Be blessed in this season of your life and be a blessing to others as well.