August Blog 2025
Seasons
My life is at a time of major transitions at the moment – events that remained vague and distant for years have now become reality and our whole family is adjusting to new reality and uncertainty, including a temporary complete loss in income.
It has given me time to reflect on life, get more balance and to realise that there are seasons in life and like the recent cold and hot weather they can be pleasant or unpleasant, but they do pass, and I realise that for the downs God provides an up if you hold your faith. The Lines in Ecclesiastes 3 (and the song by the Byrds) rang in my mind:
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
Here are a few piccies to illustrate:
A time for dying – I was retiring to spend more time with my brother Rob, 61, and help him through his latest bout of cancer (he lost an eye through cancer 6 years ago) but it spread into his spine in November and he died on the morning I was due to see him, a week before I retired. Here we are in May 2024 and his last photo in July 2025.
A time for being born – Rob’s middle daughter Kyonah found out she was pregnant a week before Rob died, and the Wake has proved pivotal in bringing a wayward sister firmly back into the family fold.
A time for leaving – I semi-retired 14 July. I had nothing to go to and needed something to maintain my income but carried on in faith that God would come through at the last minute.
A time for starting – the day I left work, 11 July, Great Boughton Parish Council asked if I was still interested in a vacancy – where I could not make the original interview – as the successful candidate had left. To date I am the only viable candidate.
A time for sowing – our mini-meadow (where we let lawn grass grow to its full height which now has grasshoppers, pretty beetles, moths, frogs and no weeds) now has plug plants to encourage even more wildlife.
A time for reaping – our buddleia, which was a recovered weed, and planted lavender are now rife with bees and butterflies, we have a rain filled pond filled with snails, beetles, larvae and lilies and I now get to see it all during the day.
A time for picking up – I have realised that church ministries have organisers, helpers and supporters. I join in depending on my interest and ability. I urge others to consider too.
A time for putting down – Time, energy and interest can wane so I’m aware that some ministries may decline at least for a while until new energy rejuvenates them.
Throughout all this turmoil, death and loss of income, I researched how to be resilient and have discovered that resilience is based partly on a belief that there are seasons and a higher authority. It reaffirmed the faith that has sustained me through it all and continues to. One seasonal event did throw me: this is our Milo before and after ‘a Summer cut’:
Mike Jones