"Je ne regrette pas” - 23 March 2017
Hennie Symington
This is what I have observed to be good: That it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labour … Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil – this is a gift from God. Ecclesiastes 5:18-19
In her most iconic song that still echoes down memory lane for many of us, Edith Piaf defiantly states: No regrets! Yet, often we are imprisoned by regrets, wondering how our lives would have turned out had we done things differently, had we married someone else, had we taken the “road less travelled” or followed our dreams. Like Lot’s wife who looked back pining for what she left behind, we often do the same.
Sometimes we are so obsessed with looking back to bygone seasons, wishing for our favourite season to return that the present with all the rich possibilities it brings, passes us by.
Reading the Psalms of David and contemplating his life as it is written up in the Old Testament, we call to mind the terrible hardship he experienced throughout his life. He had his share of war and family strife where even his own son tried to kill him. However, from reading the Psalms we learn that good times and bad times come and go and like thousands of other believers, we have found that no matter what season you are in, no season lasts forever. The good news however, regardless of the seasons, there are some things about the passing seasons that are good to know.
Prayer: God, your Word teaches that that the meaning in life is to live every season as a season ordained by you. Teach me even in the depths of despair that you were there teaching me to trust and believe that my life is in your hands. Amen