The book of Ecclesiastes in the Old Testament gives us guidance about true Wisdom. The Wisdom we seek is not found in earthly things, rather, it rests with God. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 contains verses we often hear at funerals, but the Wisdom and beauty of the passages here are worthy of constant review throughout life. They help us better understand the value of life and the dignity of our days.
There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every affair under the heavens. A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to uproot the plant. 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 be far from embraces. A time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away. A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to be silent, and a time to speak. A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
Just as nature moves through seasons—spring’s promise, summer’s fullness, autumn’s letting go, and winter’s rest—our lives, too, follow sacred cycles. Each season, whether external or internal, has purpose and meaning. We are not meant to bloom year-round. There is a time to grow, and a time to be still. A time to create, and a time to rest. A time to hold on, and a time to release.
The beauty of Ecclesiastes 3 lies in its acceptance of life’s contrasts. It doesn’t promise perpetual happiness, nor does it dwell in sorrow. Instead, it teaches us to recognize the Divine timing in all things—to trust that the season we are in, no matter how difficult or joyful, is not forever, but it is meaningful.
This message becomes especially sentimental for those entering the retirement season, which includes yours truly. After years of planting, building, leading, and striving, there comes a sacred time to slow down—to simply be. It is a time to find peace in still waters, to cast a line into a quiet lake, to walk forest trails without hurry, to pedal down a winding country road and feel the breeze of grace on your face. It is a time to see families grow and pass on God’s important truths. It is a time to listen more closely to the voice of God, often heard best in the hush of morning light or the rustle of leaves.
And in this quieter season, we are blessed to realize that some friendships—those rooted in shared joys, hardships, and prayers—have lasted across all the years. These are companions of the soul, with whom we have walked through many seasons, and whose presence remains a living witness to the constancy of love and loyalty. There is great comfort in knowing that as the leaves of life change, some bonds hold firm, as steady as the mountains.
So let us embrace each season with grace. Let us learn what it has to teach us, and trust that just as winter yields to spring, so too will our seasons shift in time. After all, there is an appointed time for everything. And in that divine timing, we find peace.
A Farewell and Blessing
As I write this final blog, I do so with a grateful heart. Thank you for walking with me through these reflections—through seasons of growth, of questions, of gratitude, and of faith. It has been a gift to share words with you, and I pray that something along the way brought you peace, clarity, or simply a moment of pause.
Though I step away from writing for now, I carry each season shared with me, just as you carry your own story forward. May God bless you at every time appointed to you—in joy and sorrow, work and rest, hello and goodbye.
And may you always find Him in the turning of your seasons.
May the Lord bless you and keep you.
May His face shine upon you and be gracious to you.
May He look upon you kindly and give you peace—
in every season, and all the days of your life.
(Based on Numbers 6:24–26)
There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every affair under the heavens.
—Ecclesiastes 3:1
With peace and gratitude,
Beth Zanotelli