I am currently reading a book entitled “Necessary Endings”
by Dr. Henry Cloud. The premise of
his book is that life operates in seasons. One must learn to clarify what
season we are currently in and what events; roles, relationships, tasks, etc…need
to come to a necessary ending.
One unique idea from this book is in finding the blessing of
feeling hopeless. That can be a
great warning sign that something needs to change or end. I’ve always been the guy with the idea
that “where there’s a will, there’s a way.” The problem is that sometimes we continue to prop something
up that is dying or else needs to die.
I’m still not in favor of quitting. However, I am now trying to be more alert to the season of
the event I’m operating in.
In reflecting on this, I can look at different ministry
roles/ jobs I have had and known when it was time for a necessary ending and a
new start. Sometimes I embraced it
and made the move quickly while at other times I fought to try and make things
work. Usually, I regretted
dragging it out.
There have also been times where wholesale changes were not
necessary. It was just a matter of
ending a task or practice. It made
all of the difference and “restored hope”.
In raising kids, I have watched as they have grown and my
role as a dad has changed. When
news seasons began in their lives, They needed me to operate differently than I
had in their child hood or adolescent years. The trick with this one is to listen to their relational
wants verses what they really need.
(Everyone who has raised teenagers knows exactly what I mean).
The end of a thing is better than the beginning thereof - Ecclesiastes 7:8. That's a hard statement considering the broad sweep of things one can go through in this life, but isn't it sort of like Romans 8:29? All things work together for good to them that love The Lord? I find it's easier for me to end things than to carry on in situations that are less than satisfactory, and sometimes that is what we have to do. It does seem though that there is a critical life lesson in the phrase "waiting on The Lord."
ReplyDeleteBut if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. Romans 8:25
Those things said, I have had necessary endings, of jobs, of relationships, of dreams. The things that abides is the sure hope of the gospel because what we will be is not yet made known.
Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. 1 John 3:2
Beginnings are usually a lot more exciting than endings (for me anyway). Ecclesiastes is right though, If something is ending, it has served its time and hopefully accomplished its task! unfortunately, It's still hard to let go sometimes. Knowing, and holding onto, the sovereignty of God is crucial in these. I also love Romans 8:28-29!
ReplyDeleteRecently I endured a change of season in my job. I was resistant at first but over time realized that the leaves changed colors and I needed to move on.
ReplyDeleteHenry Cloud actually talked about noticing when it's fall. He basically says "pull in the produce and stop planting because winter is right around the corner. I think it was true for you! Glad you took the role you did!
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