A time for every season.

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Can you feel it?  Can you sense it?  The smell of Spring is almost in the air.  For those of us who have come through a very cold and snowy winter, we are biting at the bit to get on with Spring.  With each passing season comes change.  Some people like the differences that each season brings, while others would love to have that constant, never changing, always lovely tropical sensation each and every day.  Where ever you fall on the spectrum of likes or dislikes can we at least agree that there is a reason for each change, and with each changing season comes newness and birth.

Every human has different seasons that they go through and come out of in life.  Some of these seasons bring the result of growth, knowledge, and in some cases wonderment.  Other times in our lives we walk away wondering what just went on and a hope that it never happens again.  Either way, no matter how you look at it, these changes or seasons in our lives, bring us newness and birth.  The birth of a new idea is always exciting.  The newness of a brand new home is exciting.  The simple fact that you lived to tell about it is exciting, no matter what you just went through.  We have different seasons in our life because we need to change things up.  The Universe in it's perfection knows when and how to change things up.  Certainly there will be times when we run screaming and yelling because of the change, but change is going to come, and most of the time, we will grow from that change.

Our loved ones go through different seasons and often they may not always correlate with the seasons of our lives.  When this happens we often question things, but rest assured that any change that comes to those people who surround us have come for a specific reason.  The old adage that you need to roll with the punches is very appropriate.  Certainly there will be times when we don't understand what we or others are going through, but rest assured there is always a reason.  We should learn from what we go through, and if you choose to disregard the lessons, chances are you will have an opportunity to go through things again and again until you pick up on it.

I was outside this morning taking our dog out to do her business.  It was sunny, not much wind, and of course mud everywhere.  As much as I dislike mud season I also know that it is something we have to go through to get to the beautiful months of summer.  Life is no different in that we will have to go through certain things in order to get to the best part of our lives.  The question arises then, what is the best part of our lives?  Truth be told, the best part of your life is the moment you are in right now.  Face it, we can't change what happened in the past.  As much as we may want to alter the past all we can do is live with the results of the past.  We learn from the past, we try to incorporate each lesson into what we are facing right now, and we hope that tomorrow we see the results of all of our efforts.  I wish I could tell each of you that you will never have to face a situation that is less than perfect.  I wish I could tell you that your life is only going to be a series of up and no downs.  You and I will face trials in life, different seasons that is, but with each season we have an opportunity for growth and newness.

I want to challenge you to accept change when it comes and understand that it is in front of you, not to bring suffering, but rather freedom.  I want to challenge you to be open to change and look for the silver lining.  When we fight change we are only fighting against ourselves.  When we are open to change then we are accepting the perfection of the Universe and with it all the goodness that comes from change.

I know that change is coming for me, as change is coming for you.  Just like you will never stop the seasons from changing, you are never going to stop change from coming into your life.  Will you take hold of change and accept it for the goodness that it is, or will you continue to fight it?  The decision is yours to make.  As much as I dislike winter, and as much as I love the summer in Maine and the fall, I know I have to go through the other seasons to get what I love most.  Life is no different and the sooner you accept these truths the sooner you can let go of uncertainty and doubt.  Change should excite you because life should excite you.  You are not the small child you used to be, you have grown.  If you are wise you will continue to grow and that growth will come with change.  If you fight the change you fight the growth, and then it's a lose lose proposition.  My advice is to embrace change, smile at adversity, and hold fast to your dreams.  One of the great things about dreams is that they will never change.

There is a time for every season, and you are here at the perfect time.  Embrace what comes your way and understand that it comes to you not for your harm, but for your betterment.  Tomorrow brings hope and hope is what sustains us during those troublesome times we all face.  I know it's muddy now, but soon it will dry up and I will see the beauty that comes from the change of seasons.  You will see all the beauty in the change that is coming and you will love what you see.