What season are you in?
Are you enjoying this season? Tolerating it?
Praying for it to end, so you can pass into the next season?
We know that any analogy has limits, and I contend that the "seasons" of life analogy, so popular in Christian and self-help literature, has reached its natural end.
The natural seasons all have purposes, plans and are necessary for the cycle of life - good stuff, and relate-able to much of human experience. Yet, they are not to be just 'passed through' - what about mindful acceptance of where one is now?
What about rejection of the banal characterisation of 'evil' cold winter, and simplistic 'joyous' springs and 'warm' fun summers?
Take pain, as a season. What if someone is living in constant chronic pain? They know full-well that they are most likely not going to wake up in flowering spring tomorrow. Pain goes on for years, through many natural climatic seasons. Pain is a sign that something is wrong, and those seeking healing do so through days, months, years of treatment. Scars often remain after treatment and healing, and these do not pass, but linger as reminders.
Grief is also not a 'season', in my experience. From the loss of a significant person, I went through cycles of grief and a yearly depressed feeling at the anniversary of the loss. It was a walking through, a carrying on, a living in a changed reality - not a leaf turning over, like the beginning of autumn.
Parenthood, I have heard, is a 'season' that lasts forever! No-one ceases being a parent. I know a beautiful couple whose only child - a son - lived for moments, before his death. There is a little grave that marks their hearts as parents - mummy and daddy of a life cut short. They will not pass from this season, it is theirs forever.
As a single, I am often sensitive to unthinking remarks that fly off about the "season of singleness". What if it is not a 'season' of my life? What if it is my whole life? And, what if sometimes it feels cold and lonely, and sometimes warm and sunny? And sometimes like a crazy mix of all weathers coming in and out over a course of days?
Joy is not a 'season'. As a Christian, I seek for the joy of knowing Jesus Christ's love and acceptance, no matter what. No matter my pain, happiness, marital state, job, climate, personality or whatever uncontrollable factors. This is possible - I believe - as I practice trusting God, surrendering what I think should be happening, and come to rest in understanding that I am love and accepted by the Saviour of my soul.
Not platitudes, no simplistic slogans. Life is so much more complex and wonderful than the 'season' analogy.
