Have you heard? This year Mountain T.O.P. is exploring the seasons. Join us in a short reflection and practice. Start by reading our theme passage, Ecclesiastes 3:1-14 or listening to the video linked above. Then read the following experiences of our natural seasons.
Summer
What a beautiful day it is! The sun is shining bright and God is so good. I see His wonder and glory everywhere I look. Just as the flowers and grass give off the sweet smell of summer, Lord let me be your sweet aroma to the world. God, You are so good and I could never doubt your love and your faithfulness to me.
I hunger and thirst for time in the Word: I can't get enough. I want to know you more and more. I want to serve you more and more. I can see your Holy Spirit bearing fruit in my life on a daily basis. Your love is as intense as the hottest summer sun, and I never want this season to end!
Fall
The leaves are changing and they will soon fall. The world is beginning to slow down, it is time to let go, listen to the silence, and rest. The leaves falling around me are a reminder to let go of those things that no longer work, those which no longer bring life or meaning, that which is no longer full of life.
It seems cruel, that something that used to be so beautiful should fall to the ground sinking into the earthy mud along with everything else that is dying, no longer recognizable for what it used to be. It is the way of things. Things will slip away so that another season can come. It seems cruel, but it is the rhythm of things and rhythm has its own beauty.
Winter
It is cold and dark, still and silent, but if I look in the right places, things are extraordinarily beautiful. I am trying to cultivate personal growth throughout this barrenness, but it can be difficult to keep going. Through the darkness, I am grateful for the small, seemingly meaningless moments. I am being faced with who I really am, and with God’s help, I am reminded that God is with me, for me, and in me.
I have found that I need rest for my mind, body, and soul, and now is the time to get that deep rest. I am paying attention to what is stirring in me. I am starting to notice the feelings of desperation and desire that I am experiencing and where God is leading me because of that.
Spring
Finally! It’s warming up and the snow has turned to rain, mostly. The howling wind of winter has died down. Change and transformation are happening all around me. I can hear the birds chirping and the bees buzzing. I can see the flowers blooming and pollen swirling in the air. It’s time for me to take a long stretch and start moving again. Creation is singing a song of revival. As the ground thaws, so is my heart. The warmth of resurrection and new life are filling the air.
It’s time to start something new! No cold weather, no flooded valley, no tomb can hold me back. I am reminded that God is doing a new thing: it’s sprouting up, waiting for me to recognize it.
Reflection
Where do you find yourself now? Though based on the calendar, we may be making the transition from winter to spring, our hearts might not be experiencing the same journey within. Take a few minutes to journal or draw a picture of where you find yourself now. What aspects of the different seasons are you experiencing now? If you want, share your creations on social media and tag #mtopseasons