August Message

 “August” by Ellwood Roberts (Selected excerpts only. For full poem visit Discovery Poetry) 

Now sober August comes—the scene, 

Beneath the Summer's sun still fair; 

The Summer months are nearly past, 

Regretted much, they glide away, 

A parching drouth consumes the land, 

The sultry heat a storm forebodes. 

The storm comes on, 

Refreshing floods of rain descend; 

The drouth is gone, but with it all 

The glory of the Summer-time; 

The leaves will soon begin to fall, 

The season now has passed its prime. 

All Nature's voices tell the tale— 

Of Autumn speak, and breezes all, 

That o'er the fields of stubble blow, 

Proclaim the coming of the Fall.  

What we don’t often remember are the remarks that follow this poetic opening. In verses 9-13 the author tells “For everything there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven.” Ecc. 3:1, or so the author of Ecclesiastes tells us. You know the passage, “…a time to love and a time to hate; a time for war and a time for peace.” Ecc. 3:8 You may have heard a popular 1960’s pop song by the Byrds titled “Turn! Turn! Turn!”. The song takes its theme from this book of the Bible.

 

What we don’t often remember are the remarks that follow this poetic opening. In verses 9-13 the author tells us that God has indeed given us a time for everything. Pointed out is a time for work and a time for enjoyment. “I know that there is nothing better for them than to be happy and enjoy themselves as long as they live.” Ecc. 3:12 The author self-proclaims that it is good to stop and enjoy this awesome earth that God has created for us to live in. Work is fine, and toil is natural, but God never intended that we dismiss playtime ignoring the wonder and delight of the days we are given.

 

August is here. Summer will eventually turn into fall and fall into winter. And so it goes, year upon year, decade upon decade, and century upon century. This we cannot change. And if we could, we might choose not dare to tamper with what God made “good.” The sunny hot days will fade away, and the fall colors will soon arrive. “Not yet!” you say but “Soon” says Fall. Summer bids us “Enjoy the summer days!’ Ecclesiastes bids us “Enjoy the changing times.” God bids us “enjoy the days you have been created for!”

 

Peace and blessings, Pastor MP