“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heaven; a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build up, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away,  a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,  a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.” Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8

Soloman asked the Lord for the gift of wisdom and God granted it to him. Because of this modest request he became the most powerful king of his day. In this reading we see many principles that were relevant in his day and are still relevant today. I would like to add one more; there is a time for unbelieving and a time for believing. What do I mean by this? In every one’s life there comes a time to believe in our Lord Jesus. Some believe early in life, some gain their belief in midlife and some only later or never.

Many of us are schooled early in life with Sunday school, confirmation training, bible studies and by our parents. This is the seed of our faith. The real question is does it sink in? Do we make the connection between just learning about Jesus and really feeling the need and knowledge that we need him in our lives to make us whole?

I had led what I thought was a Christian life from birth. I was baptized, attended Sunday school, was confirmed, went to 6 years of Christian school until I finally graduated from St. Paul’s Lutheran High School. Don’t look for it, it doesn’t exist anymore. All this religious training failed to prepare me for life in the world. Four years in the Navy pretty much wiped it all out. I thought.

But the seed was planted just waiting to grow. It took a nudge from God by a Via de Cristo retreat to open my eyes and make me realize that Jesus is my savior and I need him in my life every day.

So to say to you there is a time for unbelief and a time for believing, you may not feel it now but if the seed is planted in you it may just take a nudge to get it growing. There are a lot of hard times in this world but knowing Jesus can make it seem much easier. So read your bible, study your catechism, go to any class you can, attend worship and keep your heart open. Jesus is just waiting to call you His own.

Prayer: Dear God send Your Holy Spirit to plant the seed in each of us. It only takes a spark to get it growing. Open our hearts and minds that we may know Your son Jesus as our savior.