Turn, Turn, Turn!

I can't seem to get the classic song, Turn, Turn, Turn, out of my head this first week of 2007. The song was written in the 1950's by Pete Seeger but he didn't record it until 1962. It was also recorded by others including Joan Collins and most famously by The Byrds in October of 1965. Seeger adapted the words from the Biblical book, Ecclesiastes; "for everthing there is a season", and set them to a simple tune. The song helped define the decade of the 60's and the last stanza; "a time for war and a time for peace" became the hope and prayer of a generation. Click here to see a great video of The Byrds singing this classic. There are very personal reasons why the song is my present soundtrack of the mind. Twelve months ago I announced that I would retire in early 2007 from my present position as Senior Pastor of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church following over twenty years of service. For the past year my focus has been on "finishing well" and helping the congregation prepare for the transition. People would ask me how I was feeling, my plans for the future, was I excited or nervous, etc.. The truth was that my energies were in other directions and the reality of retirement rested on the fringes of my conciousness. Well, with the advent of a new year and a February 11th retirement date looming, it has now moved to the front of my conciousness. With this awareness comes feelings of excitement and anxiety, optomism and wariness, longing and relief. But the main feeling is the one expressed in the song and in the scripture; "for everything there is a season, and a time for everything under heaven", and this is the right time. The right time for me, for my family, and for the faith community. I am also confident that God has another "season" planned for me. A season filled with new challenges and new adventures.