Good morning everyone.  Today’s reading is from the book of  Ecclesiastes chapter 3: verses 1-8.

For every thing there is a season,

a time for every activity under heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to harvest;
A time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to tear down, and a time to build up;
A time to cry, and a time to laugh;
a time to grieve, and a time to dance;
A time to scatter stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to turn away;
A time to search, and a time to quit searching;
a time to keep, and a time to throw away;
A time to tear, and a time to mend;
a time to be quiet, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate;
A time for war, and a time for peace.

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Good morning everyone! 

It’s so good to see you all here on this chilly Sunday morning!  How quickly things can change here with our Manitoba weather!  From 36 degrees Celsius last Tuesday to 0 degrees early yesterday morning.  Can you say snow?

I chose this reading today because I have been reflecting on the personal seasons I see in my life and the lives of friends and family.  While I don’t necessarily agree with all outlined in this reading, I recognize that these times do seem to be part of the overall human experience.  And perhaps the contrasts help us understand the meaning of each pair.

We have the seasons we know and love in our Manitoba calendar year. 

• We have the budding promise of springtime which rises out from our winter cold; 
• We have the heat and playtime of summer, outdoor concerts, barbecues, trips to the beach, watching plants grow and blossom; 
• We have autumn with its beautiful, brilliant colors, cooler temperatures and bountiful harvest. 
• And finally comes winter, with its cold, simple, restful landscape that calls you to hibernate.  Mother nature takes her rest, and we humans come together for times of reflection, celebration and engagement, mostly indoors.  Winter helps us appreciate the warmth of our relationships in life.

We also have the seasons of our lives.  If we are fortunate, the seasons of our lives are long and full of many loving relationships. 

We all know people who lived into their 90’s with good health and good relationships, sometimes despite bad habits like smoking cigarettes or eating bacon and eggs for breakfast every day.

Others we know fly through the seasons of their lives like brilliant, speeding comets touching the lives of others ever so briefly but leaving a huge and lasting impact. 

Most of our lives are somewhere in-between these two descriptions.  What we do know is that Spirit comes into our earthly bodies for a time, then departs according to our own personal schedules.  We all come to realize that our time in these earthly bodies will have an end date.  Thankfully, as Spiritualists, we know that our spirits continue our journey after the end date of our earthly bodies.

We have all had the opportunity to delight in the freshness of a new baby, spirit freshly arrived with innocence into this earthly world.  We enjoy watching the child grow and learn, becoming more and more responsible for their decisions and their life direction.

As we journey through life, we experience many other joys.  We celebrate relationship unions or marriages, discover beauty in nature, gather joyfully with our loved ones in shared pursuits or celebrations.  How much fun it is to get together with friends and family members for a Jets play-off game, a perogy bee, a church gathering or a family birthday party!

As we journey through life, we also experience the heart ache and grief of various losses.  Illnesses, accidents, deaths of loved ones who leave our earthly group too soon. We may experience losses of material things through theft, accidents or natural disasters such as forest fires or floods. 

This past week, many Manitobans have been challenged regarding Manitoba forest fire events.  Many people in our province are dealing with mandatory evacuations and may have to deal with the loss of a primary dwelling or family cabin. People have been displaced for an unknown period of time while they wait to see what the fire may destroy.  

When my husband and I reflect on these events, our hearts ache for those who lost loved ones to fire.  It is not easy to do, but we all must remember that things can be replaced, loved ones can’t be replaced.

To further complicate life, sometimes joyful events occur at the same time as a loss or difficult time.  A family member may become ill or die near the time of a joyful event.  We are challenged with how to process the very different emotions each event brings and grief is sharpened in the contrast.  

As we progress through the seasons of our lives, our perspectives and priorities change.

To end my talk, here are a few inspirational points from IMom.com, 10 Ways not to Waste your Life. 

1. Believe.

 Believe that you can choose your attitude and your response to what happens to you, and around you.  (As Glenn and Heather teach us, Always remember, thoughts are things!)

2. Know where you’re headed.

If you don’t know where you’re going, you’ll end up somewhere, but it probably won’t be where you wanted to go. Goals, both short-term and long-term, are necessary for purposeful change.

3. Define Success.

Know that our standard for a successful life is found in serving others, being a good mom, loving our family.  These standards are more conducive to satisfaction than not having cellulite, having a spotless house or making a lot of money.

4. Value people over things.

This is an extension of #3 – No person is a failure who is loved by a child. That principle extends to our spouse, neighbors, friends and co-workers. To love generously is the cure for the common life.

5. Overcome neediness.

When we need others, or achievements, to feel worthy or happy in any way, we’re undermining this great truth: The simple fact of our creation, and that we are valued by our Creator, is sufficient.

6. Live in the moment.

Life is now. Life is going on around you right now. Yes, plan for your future, but don’t put life on hold until you’ve lost 10 pounds, bought a new car or gotten your house ‘just right.’

7. Continue learning.

Life-long learners adopt the ongoing posture of reinvention and redemption. Learners ask questions rather than act as if they know all the answers. It’s difficult to waste your life when you are humble and open to new ideas.

8. Be thankful.

Knowing what we value puts it all into perspective. Be thankful for even the most routine blessings—your health, your children, your life.

9. Know you’re not alone.

Our Creator is always there for you.  If you draw closer to Creator, Creator will draw closer to you.

I thank you all for being here today.  I also want to thank my guides for the assistance they gave me in preparing for today’s talk.