Turn! Turn! Turn! - June 5, 2024
Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 119:49-72; PM Psalm 49, [53]; Eccles. 3:1-15; Gal. 2:11-21; Matt. 14:1-12
Today’s reading from the Old Testament comes from Ecclesiastes, one of the wisdom texts in the Hebrew Bible. The scripture in Chapter 3 begins, “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven…” and then many of you may hear a tune in your memory, written by Pete Seeger in 1959. It became more widely known as the song “Turn! Turn! Turn!” after it was reworked, polished, and redistributed in 1965 by The Byrds.
When penning these lyrics, Seeger kept most of the scripture from Ecclesiastes intact. He wrote of the options at play in the sacred text: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance. The crescendos of pain and the peaks of joy. Sometimes we do not know when the turning will happen, as we move from one experience to the other.
This past Sunday, I was met with an unexpected turn. My kids sat on the bench outside the vesting room at church. One was dragging feet about serving as an acolyte, and the other was sitting in solidarity – for reluctance is contagious. I asked the older one to come get ready; complaining ensued, along with a report that a strange “pop-pop-pop” noise had echoed through the hall. As our church is nestled among trees, I advised going to the window to see if a tree had fallen. I was met with exasperation; I did not understand. After getting vested, I returned to check on the status of my kids. The concern was raised again, now by both children and with more clarity: were the popping sounds gunshots? In that “turn,” they went from a time of laughing and joking, to a time of fear and mourning. The healing that has been building over the past two years since the shootings at Saint Stephen’s can still give way to the wounds of post-traumatic stress.
Helpers were readily available to explore the sound and worries. The head usher consulted our on-site police presence and confirmed no need for concern. Then, staff appropriately followed through and determined that microphones were being adjusted between services, hence the popping noise over the hallway speakers.
I share this uncomfortable, personal scenario for two reasons: Saint Stephen’s has safety and security measures in place to respond to concerns, and we work to make sure that we are doing all we can to stay informed. And, if my kids have moments of fear and trembling, maybe you get uncomfortable or worried, too. If you worship at Saint Stephen’s, know that it is normal to be reminded from time to time of the grief and trauma that faced our parish in 2022. If these thoughts feel overly intrusive or disruptive, please speak to a member of the clergy to get connected to a therapist who is trained to offer trauma-informed counsel.
There are indeed times to mourn and times to dance – and sometimes we are surprised when grief and fear present themselves without warning. Nevertheless, dancing is still happening…and God desires that we have fulfillment in our lives. Ecclesiastes 3:12 reads, “I know that there is nothing better for them than to be happy and enjoy themselves as long as they live…”
May you feel fulfillment in God’s faithfulness today,
Katherine+
Reflection and Challenge
Read Ecclesiastes 3:1-8. Let the words be a meditative prayer. Allow the thoughts and examples of each action flow through your mind. Pay attention to the “turns” from one experience to the next. Spend five minutes journaling about insights gathered in this experience. Then, sit in prayer to give thanks for the gift of God’s presence in this time.