Changing my focus, focusing on change.

Michelle Dean
Feb 16, 2017
2 min read

In 1965 The Byrds, an American folk band covered and released their #1 hit, "Turn, Turn, Turn". Using the lyrics from the 3rd chapter of the biblical book Ecclesiastes song writer Peter Seegar put to lyrics what my grandmother attempted to teach me in my wilder years: That for every thing that needs to be done, there is a season or day for it.

To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven:

A time to be born, and a time to die;

A time to plant, and a time to pluck what is planted;

A time to kill, and a time to heal;

A time to break down, and a time to build up;

A time to weep, and a time to laugh;

A time to mourn, and a a time to dance;

A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones;

a time to embrace and a a time to refrain from embracing;

A time to gain, and a time to lose;

A time to keep, and a time to throw away;

A time to tear and a time to sew;

A time to keep silent, and a time to speak;

A time to love, and a time to hate;

A time of war, and a time of peace.

The Father of Time speaks,

"Choose carefully what you do with today, because like you, it has a purpose."

Just as I have a purpose for my life, this time period has a purpose for it as well. When my life and time intersect, destiny occurs.

Maybe that is a bit existential, but put into practical terms, I am focusing on change this year. Mid-November of 2016, Dan and I began to implement a plan to fulfill our dreams. This time the focus was on Dan's career plans, not mine. Little did I know that God was not asking me to give up my calling and career of being in the public arena; instead He was changing the arena.

It is a time of planting.

In moving into this new season,

my life and time have intersected.

There is a time to do things that are unconventional. If I am focusing on changing my environment, I cannot be the same person who continues doing the same things that I have always chosen to do. When wanting something to change, we must be the first thing that changes.

In some areas I both planted and plucked that which was planted.
In some areas I wept, while in others I laughed.
Some relationships I gained, while others I lost.
Some relationships I found it necessary to tear down, while others needing building up.

Our family is shifting our focus to learn what is to be gained and what is to be lost. We are looking under a life sized microscope to understand what is to be kept and what is to be thrown away. We are considering every choice to hear His heart in choosing what is to be torn and what is to be sewn.