Seasons

Today is apparently the first day of celebrations for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. It is, by any stretch, a remarkable achievement. She is now the third longest reigning monarch in history. She has a couple of years to go if she is to become top of the list and surpass King Louis XIV of France who ruled for a bit over 72 years! But, this is a milestone very few monarchs have reached. For the first time in 60 years (apart from two years when she was pregnant) the Queen did not deliver the speech at the State Opening of Parliament earlier this week. She is now 96. And, the truth is, she can’t go one forever. Life is a season. Her reign is a season. A season has a beginning and an end. That’s why it’s season. In the not too distant future there will be a change. One season will end and another will begin. It’s the simple truth about the way life is. I’m not very good at seasons. If I have a quality, it is that I am faithful and committed and loyal. What I’m not good at is change. So, I like things to go on as they are. That would be great, apart from the truth about seasons. In the end, it doesn’t matter how faithful and committed and loyal I might be. Things will not go on forever. It’s not bad to be any of those things. To be faithful, committed and loyal is to live well. But it doesn’t mean things last. And the truth about seasons is that nothing lasts. When any monarch dies, someone will say: “The King/Queen is dead! Long live the King/Queen.” When the Queen dies, someone will say: “The Queen is dead. Long live the King!” It’s a way of acknowledging the end of one season and the beginning of a another. The reign of Queen Elizabeth II has ended and the Reign of King Charles !!! will begin. There is a book that talks about seasons. It’s a complex, but beautiful book. You should read it. It’s called Ecclesiastes. The only bit of this book we are familiar with (forgive me if you’ve read it) is the bit which talks about seasons: “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” (Ecclesiastes 1:1) It’s a very practical book. But it has a twist. It has twist because it is the book of a King. Not an earthly king, but the King. The King of the universe. And, in his Kingdom, when I die, someone will say: “Ian is dead. Long live Ian! Because, God has placed eternity in the human heart (Eccl. 3:11) and when my season on earth comes to an end, another season will begin. Well, actually, it’s already begun, but I’ll experience it in all its fulness. And that’s because there is a King who is faithful and committed and loyal towards me and who will welcome me into his presence to live fully in his Kingdom. I might not be very good at seasons, but the King is. And that’s great news for me. And you!