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Double Dutch, Flexibility, and Ecclesiastes

 


Let me begin by saying I don't know how to Double Dutch. In theory it seems like you just need to catch the rhythm. I use a Double Dutch analogy frequently when I am talking about catching on to something, but I have never actually tried myself. Or maybe I tried, failed, and intentionally forgot? Regardless it seems like a lot of life is trying to catch the rhythm, jump in, and make the best of a situation. As a planner, I would prefer a schedule for entrance, number of jumps, and exit. Sure at a competition it may be that regulated- but on the street? Real life? Flexibility is the name of the game. 

A former boss once said, you seem extremely flexible. She was right in that I have a lot of skill sets that I can wield well. A close friend found the comment hilarious because he knew that my ability to do so many things did not equate to an easygoing nature about plans switching up. As I think back over the last two years, life has been nothing but the switch up! The direction seems sure, clear, set, and then switch up! Veer to the left, veer to the right! And there I am holding my now irrelevant plans as the rhythm of life carries on. 

In so many facets of life I have been able to jump back in, seemingly not missing a beat. Yet my non limber mindset has struggled with not being as flexible as all the life changes have required. Where is my plan that works down to the "t"? Where is my year, month, week, day, ok hour that goes as planned?

This morning as I realized that this switch up rhythm is the new pattern of my life, I found comfort in the words of Solomon in Ecclesiastes 3. 

There is a time for everything,
    and a season for every activity under the heavens:

2     a time to be born and a time to die,
    a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3     a time to kill and a time to heal,
    a time to tear down and a time to build,
4     a time to weep and a time to laugh,
    a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5     a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
    a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
6     a time to search and a time to give up,
    a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7     a time to tear and a time to mend,
    a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8     a time to love and a time to hate,
    a time for war and a time for peace.


The time has come for me to become a discerner of the season, the time, more than a planner of every moment. Seasons change, and I must be willing to change with them too.

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