Life’s tapestry unfurls in seasons,
Ever shifting from grand ones to those you wouldn’t want to imagine,
There comes moments when the sun spills generously upon a laughing face,
Shared delight makes every burden lighter,
The taste of triumph, exquisitely divine,
Victory upon victory comes in close succession,
These are the moments where music is made for laughter,
And fine wine makes life merry,
All the fears disappear,
And worries cease to be,
A story whispered, beautifully told,
Of sheer joy and pure contentment,
Such precious moments,
We wished they lasted forever.
Then there are seasons,
When time seems like it stands still,
When shadows cling and days are longer,
A barren landscape stretches endlessly,
And all you can see ahead of you is a pile of rubble,
When silence itself echoes in empty rooms,
Where wounds refuse to heal their ugly scars,
And the spirit lies desolate, cold and bruised,
And hope recedes like the tides of the sea,
Brighter dawns never quite appear,
Your enemies gather and laugh at you,
A story whispered, weary and worn out,
Lord why would you let me go through this?
My fate is brutal,
I go through destruction, demolition and annihilation,
I am overwhelmed with fear,
Is there light at the end of the trenches?
But do all these ever happen for the first time?
Are they new under the sun?
Are there moments in history where even worse happened?
Surely if you were to go through the suffering Job went through, would you endure?
Can you imagine the suffering Jesus went through during his crucifixion?
Didn’t our ancestors go through colonization?
All the hard labour under no pay, and if at all, peanuts!
Some fought in battlefronts, wars they never understood the reason to fight,
And some underwent brutal slavery,
Can we bear the many unending wars some communities have faced?
Or the brutal dictatorships some kings enforced on their subjects?
And how some boasted of how strong they were,
And built exceedingly magnificent palaces for themselves,
Didn’t all these come to pass?
Are there seasons you’re really tired of?
But they don’t seem to end,
They cause you endless waves of panic,
They’re so determined to make sure you’re restless,
Is it the wait for the results of exams you just did,
Or the torturous exam season itself,
Or the interview you’ve just had,
Or are you just tired of holiday?
Or even being broke,
Maybe it’s an illness,
Or slavery of your own people,
Or just tired of the brutal and unjust king in your land,
All these shall come to pass.
There’s no better time to live,
Says Warren Buffet,
“If I had the chance to become a fresh graduate again I’d gladly accept,”
“Wars, pandemics and economic depressions will always be there,”
“But they will certainly end”
Are there seasons you want to last forever,
Moments that are very much like a utopian dream,
Those days you win so much,
That you’re tired of winning,
When the heart is cheerful,
When your eyes glitter and your face shines,
Your coffers are full,
Your table overflows bountifully,
Savory scents fill the air,
Feasts are made,
To toast to friendships and share moments of joy,
Do you remember the Lord on these good days?
Surely! As long as the Lord lives,
The sun will rise and set,
There is a time for everything,
A time to be born and a time to die,
A time to plant and a time to uproot,
A time to kill and a time to heal,
A time to tear down and a time to build,
A time to weep and a time to laugh,
A time to mourn and a time to dance,
A time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
A time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
A time to search and a time to give up,
A time to keep and a time to throw away,
A time to tear and a time to mend,
A time to be silent and a time to speak,
A time to love and a time to hate,
A time for war and a time for peace.
Indeed all is vanity as the preacher says,
But there’s one being that lasts forever,
The Almighty God,
Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength,
They will soar on wings like eagles,
They will run and not grow weary,
They will walk and not be faint,
How I pray that we remember,
That nothing can separate us from the love You have for us,
No trouble or hardship or persecution,
No famine or nakedness or danger or sword,
Will be able to separate us from the love of God,
Yes all these shall come to pass,
But I remain hopeful in your love that endures forever!
~By Amos O. Odira