For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven …
The author of Ecclesiastes reminds us that there is a time for everything. How we choose to live in each of these times affects our own well-being and that of others. I can relate to this passage more as I have gotten older, and I can relate to it in my vocation as a church musician as well. Here are a few thoughts:
… a time to be born, and a time to die …
It is not easy to minister to families in their times of both grief and joy. Extra services like weddings and funerals can feel like a burden. Can we mourn and dance alongside others? When I can focus my attention as much on the people as the music, my attitude changes and I believe that love flows through the music I make.
… a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted …
Planting is part of our job as church musicians. Teaching a child to sing on pitch, playing an instrumental piece that touches someone’s soul, or making a hymn text come alive are all seeds that we sow. Some are carefully planted and nurtured; others are scattered, never to be seen by us again. Perhaps the plucking up is the developing of new leaders. The seeds have grown and matured and are ready for their purpose.
… a time to break down, and a time to build up …
Music programs broken (or at least injured) will take time to build up. When my children’s choir was able to return to in-person rehearsals this past year, I felt like I was starting from scratch. Choristers who had been on Zoom for rehearsals and worship for over a year did not know what a hymnal was. It has been a time to build. I pray for continued patience and wisdom in this time of building.
… a time to mourn and a time to dance …
We have endured many losses during the pandemic. We grieve for lives lost, but also for community and rituals. I often wonder if “church” as we once knew it will ever be the same. Have we taken time to mourn and heal? We have also experienced reunions and other joyous occasions as we returned to more normal activities. Have we savored these triumphs?
… a time to keep, and a time to throw away …
This season of “ordinary” time could be the perfect time to decide what to keep and what to throw away. Summer is usually the time when I literally do this with a good office clean up. We can also think in other terms. Are there bad work habits to be thrown away? Is there a program or choir that is barely hanging on? Instead of rolling the calendar over for the next academic year and doing what’s always been done, evaluate what might need to go. This is difficult but necessary. I have had to do it, and it always ends up with new growth (but not necessarily when you expect it).
… a time to keep silence, and a time to speak …
How many of us really value silence? This verse sometimes is interpreted as “know when to keep your mouth shut,” but it could also mean that we should seek out and treasure silence. Whether it’s going for a daily walk (with no earbuds) or having an early cup of coffee alone, July could be a good month to try it out.
Mindfulness is a practice that has become popular in recent years. I think the author of Ecclesiastes would understand it. A recognition of the time we are in, acceptance of it, and an understanding of what we are to do in that time could make us better humans. We live in these times collectively, but also individually. What time is it for your community and for you?