Seasons of Change

I was walking last night and happened upon my favorite tree, the Chinese Pistachio.  In the spring it is such a beautiful tree, one whose color glistens in the sun. Amidst an ever so subtle breeze, the leaves were falling to the ground as if tearfully whispering "change is here." I was startled; as I had been too busy admiring the crisp air, the beautiful stars and the comfortable temperatures in the darkness of the night to "catch the season changing."

This once beautiful tree, amidst the season of change, seemed in a bit of distress.  I could hear its anxious movement in anticipation of winter's bitter influence.  The leaves were faded and the limbs slightly droopy as if to bow down its head in a moment of prayer.  Right beside that tree stood an evergreen.  The mighty oak was almost laughing at the pistachio because it would remain armed throughout any season, an untouchable force to be reckoned with.  The oak is my husband’s favorite tree; one that stands tall and strong with the ability to withstand the seasons.  A long lived oak captures the heart of the wanderer in its majestic stance. 

It was then I recalled a question presented in the very last session of a recent bible study, "what is your season of life?" My point to ponder became “who AM I in the seasons of life?”  Am I the mighty oak remaining ever green with a hard exterior or the gentle pistachio destined to give in to the harsh winter season?   

I evaluated that moment in the battlefield of my mind.  I determined that the tree, withstanding the force of winter in its own skin, maintains a protective cover so as not to shed the old.  It does not embrace the change, rather it stands firm through it.  The Oak grows slower through the years, leaves always green and scarred, but constant.  

Then there is vulnerable pistachio tree whose leaves fall to the ground, surrendering its being, shedding the old and trusting God to awaken it again.  It will arise in the next season taller, stronger, and full of new growth.  It will have embraced the winter and flourish in blooms and color throughout each season of the year.  It will never be as tall or as strong as the oak, but it will experience a new awakening on the heels of faith throughout the most difficult of seasons.

Seasons invoke the core being of who we are within each of them.  The choices are to surrender or to embrace each season; however, being faithfully true to His blessings in each season means that we are learning to “embrace the surrender” and to emerge as a hybrid of the oak and the pistachio.  The blue sky lurks in the shadows of the storm and the loneliness of the night holds back the sunrise.  Either way, there will be blue skies and a beautiful sunrise.  It is His promise.  Bring on the rain and the storms of life, for it is through them that we can emerge on the other side loving the sunshine and warmth.

In Ecclesiastes 3:1, we are challenged with God's Word: "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven."  Even the oak that stands firm in the winter will be challenged in a season of drought or in hurricane force winds.  Will the mighty oak be prepared for change because it stands proud against change rather than embracing it?  As you face spiritual or life’s hardships, think on Christ, as found in II Corinthians 12:10:  "For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weakness, insults, hardships, persecutions and calamities.  For when I am weak, then I am strong." 

Where are you in your life season...your spiritual season?   What has God delivered you from or when have you persevered in faith and He has made you stronger?  What tree do you choose to be in the seasons of change?  I would love to hear from you!