He could have had anything, but he asked for wisdom. And so it went that he was granted more wisdom than any man, ever. The third chapter of Ecclesiastes was his observations on how these earthly things go. There is a natural rhythm to life, an ebb and flow that we can’t bypass or ignore. There is no override button.
The thing about life is it was meant to be lived. Sometimes, that seems like bad news. I saw this chapter printed out on display in an office space last week. The middle of verse 8 was left out, so all it said was A time to love and a time for peace taking out the hate and war part. I like that better, too. But that’s not how things are.
As it is, I can’t read these verses without silently inserting turn, turn, turn (can you?), but that is the truth of it. Time turns and turns and rolls over itself, the awful and the lovely mixing in like colored play-doh. I can’t say that the awful makes the lovely more lovely, because I think the lovely would be just fine on its own. Somehow, though, it can be redeemed; even the hate and the war parts. As much as I’d prefer the lovely all by itself, beauty from ashes tells a more compelling story.
sometimes i wish there were fewer ashes and just more beauty, cause sometimes all the ash in my eyes is blinding, thanks for the reflections emily
Did you write this on purpose? I mean, I’m having an ashes day… which you knew about before I read this. I usually like to leave out the hate and war – and relentlessly screaming baby – parts, too. They still happen though. Looking for the beauty… looking for the beauty…
I can’t say the ashes always create more beauty, either, from my view, but I do think from God’s view, the ashes bring forth a more vibrant beauty… colors that captivate, sounds the tickle the ear, and movement fluid and graceful. The ashes highlight the beauty.
Emily, you said that with such grace, “beauty from ashes tells a more compelling story.” Oh girl, I can so testify.
beauty for ashes. yep. that about says it all. It was almost the name of my blog…cause it SO could be.
He redeems it all. every.single.time.
oh emily. i’m scattered today. too many things going on here. i’ve got some scared too. sometimes God’s times for things aren’t my times. sometimes He wants me to love when i want to hate, sometimes He asks me for more than i have to give. but always in Him, the secret is being content, the secret is doing all things through Christ who strengthens me. i don’t have enough faith to believe that hard enough; even the believing must be done through Him.
thanks for this post. it means much. i need to live in the story – wherever it compels me.
For Everything a Season by Philip Gulley. Have you read it? Great stuff. On my Top 5 Favorites list.
This is so where I am today Emily. I’ve spent the last 9 days of my life out of state and stressed out, arriving home late last night from our totally unplanned “adventure” and with a fever-ridden toddler to boot. None of it was what I’d planned…and I am realizing, day by day, that seems to be the theme of life. And while I wouldn’t choose certain things on the front end, you’re right: Beauty from ashes does indeed make for a more compelling story. Thanks for the much-needed reminder of that.
…without the ashes, i would still be the scared little girl who is too afraid of her own shadow to move… …i would still be alone, trapped in the darkness of my own mind… …i wouldn’t be where i am…
the ashes are necessary, even tho painful…as most growth often is…as the ashes highlight the amazingness of an awesome God
True words, Emily. Hard to remember when the ashes are all that remains of of something that we loved, but true just the same.
It is good to know the real God, the one who is capable of redeeming even the most charred of situations. I love the ways you use the gift He gave you. I am grateful for the way your life testifies of His goodness.
By the way, I’ve always loved The Byrds’ recording of “Turn, Turn, Turn.” I was a very little girl when it was released, but that was way before your time. How do you know it?
We’ve had a lot of ashes lately–there is so much hope that beauty must come from it.
Charlie and I were just talking about these verses the other day, as they were the topic of his devotions at work. He sent me a copy, as I was having a particularly difficult day waiting on an adoption. It’s a hard concept, because we want everything now. Yes, His timing is better, but it’s hard for us to see that when we’re in the waiting season.
I guess the idea is to say “Here I am, where you’ve place me, Lord. I trust that you’ve got it right, and I will see it in time.”
That isn’t easy.
Hills and valleys, highs and lows … and such is life.
though the awful times are not fun or anything, and i would def take good times without having awful times, i think that awful times can help us grow and learn so much. it makes me think of 1 corint 10:31, “you must do all for the glory of God” … that even though awful times are not exciting or feel instantly rewarding, we should use them to bring glory to God and he often puts not so wonderful circumstances in our lives so that He will get more glory. and since life is a constant ebb and flow, we should try to find the wonderful in everything and use it to bring God further glory.
Unfortunately we can’t have just the lovely, or not for very long. You are right though, there is something much more compelling about the blending of the two. The Father takes our sorrows and pain and somehow manages to make something beautiful of them.
Now…I feel guilty about the post I just pushed ‘publish’…*sigh* I love the beauty…
What a poignant post that gives me real encouragement during this season of my life. Thank you!
I love this.
Your voice is beautiful believable. True.
And wow, could that guy shake a tambourine!
Oh Emily. So beautiful. So needed. Thank you.
My husband and I would have never had our beauty if it were not for the ashes we had lived that lead to our meeting. God is good…all the time.