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).
