Ecclesiastes 3: 1-2: For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die: a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted…. [Revised Standard translation]
BIBLICAL COMMENTS
There are a number of books in the Bible that some have labeled “wisdom literature.” These books include the Book of Job, Psalms, the Book of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes. The word “Ecclesiastes” is a Latin transliteration* of the Greek translation of the Hebrew word “Koheleth.” “Koheleth” means “Gatherer” but is traditionally translated as “Teacher” or “Preacher.” See, www.wikipedia.com.
In Ecclesiastes 1:1, the Kohleleth or Preacher/Teacher identifies himself as the son of David, Solomon. The “words” of the text are in the form of an autobiographical narrative. The subject matter appears to be “the meaning of life.”
According to The Teacher/The Koheleth, everything has a season or a time.
And, after considering the seasons and many other things about human life (birth, death, the search for wisdom, the desire for advancement, the vanity of wealth and honor, the attempts to please our appetite for things, the search for virtue and wisdom), and after much study, teaching, the Teacher gives us his conclusions about “the whole matter.” The Wise Teacher concludes that we should:
Fear GOD, and keep HIS commandments….
Ecclesiastes 1:13. Why? Because only GOD remains the same. We can find comfort and hope in knowing that HE is the same—yesterday, today and tomorrow and that HE is in control in every season.
*A transliteration is a conversion of a word or text from one script to the alphabet of another script.
SEASONS
Many people reference four seasons: Autumn, Winter, Spring, and Summer. People often reference the season based on the astronomical position of the earth to the sun. In 2019, the astronomical dates for the seasons are as follows:
- Spring- Wednesday, March 20, 2019– when day and night are approximately 12 hours long with the sun crossing the celestial equator going northward
- Summer- Friday, June 21, 2019—when we enjoy the most daylight of the calendar year. After this date, the amount of sunlight begins to decrease.
- Autumn or Fall - Monday, September 23, 2019 –day and night are each approximately 12 hours long with the sun crossing the celestial equator going southward.
- Winter- Saturday, December 21, 2019 – the shortest day of the year, meaning the least amount of sunlight. After this date, the amount of sunlight begins to increase.
Many chefs grow their own foods at nearby gardens where the foods can be easily harvested. One reason some of the “best” restaurants have seasonal foods is because fresh foods (seasonal foods) just taste better. Eating fresh fruit or vegetable is also more nutritious. There is less shipping, less packaging, less processing, and storage.
When we eat seasonally, we also support our local economy (and local farmers) and reduce our environmental “footprint” since less (transportation) fuels are used in the shipping process.
You can also find that you can stretch your dollar shopping at a local farmer’s market, especially when the market is about to close and the merchants are eager to bargain so that they don’t have to transport produce back home.
If you go to https://www.seasonalfoodguide.org/ and click on your state, you can find a list of fruits and vegetables in season in your state each month of the year.
For example, if you live in California, some of the produce available in the state in late September include:
Apples, Artichokes, Arugula, Asian Pears, Avocados, Beets, Blackberries, Bok
Choy, Broccoli, Brussels, Sprouts, Cabbage, Cantaloupe, Carrots, Cauliflower,
Celery, Chard, Citrus, Collard Greens, Corn, Cucumbers, Dates, Edamame,
Eggplant, Figs, Garlic, Ginger, Grapefruit, Grapes, Green Beans, Green Onions,
Kale, Kiwi, Leeks, Lemons, Lettuce, Melons, Mushrooms, Nectarines, Okra,
Olives, Oranges, Parsley, Peaches, Pears, Peas, Pecans, Peppers, Persimmons,
Plums, Potatoes, Pumpkin, Radishes, Raspberries, Rhubarb, Shell Beans, Snap Peas, Strawberries, Summer Squash, Sweet Potatoes, Tomatoes, Turnips,
Watermelon, Winter Squash
See: https://www.seasonalfoodguide.org/california/late-september.
Or, instead of consulting a chart, attend a farmer’s market in your area and discover what fresh fruits and vegetables are available in your region.
VARIOUS SEASONS
In life we experience a lot of seasons. “hurricane season,” “earthquake season,” “fire season” “election season” “flooding season” “rainy season” “baseball season” “basketball season” “football season” “vacation season” “tax season.” Soon, there will be the “holiday seasons.”
Pray about whatever “season” or “seasons” you find yourself: “a season of growth,” “a season of celebration,” “a season of adjustment,” “a season of learning,” “ a season of trials,” “a season of grief,” “a season of praise,” “a season of encouragement,” “a season of renewal,” “ a season of waiting,” “a season of moderation,” “a season of giving” “ a season of change” “a season of joy” “a season of re-birth,” “a season of refuge and strength.”
Read scripture. Pray. Ask God to provide clarity and define your “season” or the “season of your family” (including your congregational family where you worship). Meditate on scripture.
Psalms 46 reminds us:
- GOD is our refuge and our strength; [Psalms 46:1];
- [T]hough the earth should change...mountains shake…oceans roar and foam…GOD is [still there] in the midst; [Psalms 46:2-5]
- Even if nations rant and rave...THE LORD ALMIGHTY is with us. Psalms 46:6-7]
Remember, GOD IS….in season and out of season.
Today, continue to pray one for another--- for our brothers in sisters all over the world.
Let us eat seasonally. And, let us pray joyfully, during all seasons
Be assured that GOD IS and BE BLESSED!
