Ecclesiastes 3:1 - 8 Time for Everything
For everything 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.
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.
What do people really get for all their hard work? I have seen the burden God has placed on us all. Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end. So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can. And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God.
As I packed the 1976 Kombi with the last of our possessions (and of course not forgetting my 15 year old son!) for the trip down the East coast to our new home, I was filled with mixed emotions. We had spent almost 9 years in the Immanuel community, not only from a work context, but as a family as my four children travelled their journey through the College.
In my saner moments, I had asked myself ‘what are you thinking’! Kids were settled, school was going really well, we had a great group of friends both at work and personally, climate was brilliant (no reflection on Melbourne weather!), so why the move South?
As the scriptural reading from Ecclesiastes reminds us, there are seasons in our lives, much like in the world, that change.
Often when we become comfortable, or are feeling well satisfied with our professional and personal lives, God will start whispering in our ear, or you develop this itch that you can’t scratch. I have been mindful through my life that you can ignore this for only so long, and it is when you open your mind and heart to the possibilities (and also certain knowledge that He has a plan for us all), that we are freed to make changes in our lives, and that there is a season for everything.
Of course, there are many things that I miss about our life in Queensland, but I am also so excited and filled with anticipation for what He has now set before me and my family. I recognise the incredible work our leaders and staff do in our school and ECS communities, and am passionate about supporting our young people to be the best they can be. I am committed to not losing sight of the privilege it is to have over 8000 students and children in our care, and the pledge we make to families that we will nurture and support them on their life’s journey. My role and that of the Office is to ensure all our people feel supported in this mission, and that the love and hope that Christ brings shines bright through the work of our hands.
I wish you God’s richest blessings for 2024, and look forward to journeying with you in this endeavour.
In Christ,
Colin Minke
colin.minke@levnt.edu.au
