New Season, New Slate

Throughout the South, football fans of all shapes and sizes circle the first date of spring practice as the beginning of a new season. It doesn’t matter which team or conference – die-hard fans will pack out Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville, Claude Mann Field in Malvern, or Carpenter-Haygood Stadium at my alma mater Henderson State to see what the new offense can do or some hard-hitting tackles from linebackers, cornerbacks, and safeties. We all have reasons (some unfounded) that our teams are the best even if past performance is an indicator to the contrary because they are thee squads that we throw our loyalty behind whether through actual game experience, residency, where we attended school, or something as far out of the blue as uniform colors! On game days, almost everyone knows that I will hang my Reddie Nation banner from my driveway as well as via Facebook and Twitter for two reasons:  first, I am a proud graduate and second, I remember how lousy the football team was when I was a student many moons ago.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 states wisdom recognizes that everything has a season and the slate is wiped clean in both human nature and the realm of nature. There is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven. In other words, real recognize real.

In my own lifetime, I have seen various seasons:  child to adult, student to teacher, employee to supervisor, renter to homeowner, bachelor to husband, etc. Having Caeli marks the beginning of a new season:  parenthood. I’ve never been a father before despite having to care for two nephews who temporarily lived in our apartment and my eight-year-old goddaughter Maya who gets whatever she wants. As Christians, it is critical that we acknowledge our seasons:  spring may be symbolized by newness, such as the birth of a child or accepting Christ as Lord and Savior, whereas autumn represents the end of a career and its pending retirement to enjoy the fruits of labor. Our priorities change. Holding on to past things too long make us seem childish, as evidenced in the fifty-year-old men who have spent their lives in and out of jail only to come home to behave as if they are still sixteen year old, dating underage girls and standing long hours in line at Foot Locker for a pair of grossly overpriced Air Jordan sneakers.

When life brings changes to our circumstances and obligations, we must responsibly and wisely discern what kind of commitments we should make, seeking to do in the glory of God. Commitment to Christ is a daily calling that challenges us.