Nigel Pickles

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ecc%203:1-8&version=31

'There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven.'

This passage was initially brought to my attention in my early teens through the song 'Turn Turn Turn' written by Pete Seeger based on these eight verses. The idea of God's will providing the balance of opportunities in our lives is one that appeals to me. If we can live with the challenge of accepting what is thrown at us, whether it be to our liking or not, and understand that there is the potential for change, both for good and bad, then it helps us to accept God in all his guises. This is particularly relevant when things are not going as well as we would like in our lives but at the same time it reminds us to act in humility when things are going well.

As an historical aside, the verses were turned into song by Pete Seeger, one of America's most famous folksingers who is still performing into his 90s. Seeger followed in the footsteps of Woody Guthrie and in a way took on his mantle as the social conscience of America. This often put him in conflict with the US establishment at a time when being 'anti-american' in any form was met with both legal threats as well as violence on the streets. I saw Seeger perform the song in the mid sixties when he became the first artist to perform at the Roundhouse in London. The bulldozers moved out at 7 pm and the concert commenced at 8. The stage was erected in the centre of the auditorium and the audience had to stand, as there were no seats, but it was one of the most magical concerts I have ever attended with the charisma of Seeger and his banjo holding us spellbound for over two hours.