A New Season

Here in Australia we are entering a new season; the season of winter.  For those who live in Melbourne, they might say that throughout autumn we have had several winter days.  The weather is not always predictable, regardless of the season we are in.  Have you ever noticed that the journey through life is often like that?
 
Ecclesiastes 3:1 states, “For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven”.  It then goes on to name the various things that take place during these times.  I was away last week and had the privilege of enjoying the various colours autumn brings out on the leaves.  Some trees had already lost all of their leaves, while some were just beginning the process. There were yet others, clearly not deciduous, which had their vibrant green leaves on show.
 
As we consider the times we go through in life, how often would you say we pause and contemplate the season we are in? How often do we take time to grieve the losses, appreciate, heal, forgive, dream, be still, etc.?  Last year my husband and I entered a new season in our lives as our beloved children both finished school and entered adulthood. There was joy and there was grief.  Grief because our little girls were no longer little girls (not that they had been for many, many years), and joy because this new season brought us a sense of less responsibility, offering us more time.  It has now been one year since my husband and I have made it a point to go away once a month over the weekend; to enjoy, relax and be refreshed.  It’s our time to stop from work, pause from schedules and dream.
 
I enjoy these times as it is very important to pause and be still, within both mind and body.  For a long time I have had a dream to create a space for others to be still, away from the busyness of their lives.  I don’t know about you, but it is hard to create space to just stop, especially when at home and seeing the many things that 'need' attention.  The question is, what is more important: our state of wellbeing, or getting on top of things? On the other hand, is it ever possible to be on top of things?
 
So, I invite you to come away with me. To retreat for a few hours, creating time to be refreshed, renewed, restored.  Feel free to contact me if you are interested in participating and want to know more details.  Numbers will be limited to create space for being still. Our time together will invite some creativity and interaction on topics of wellbeing.

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