That was the name of a popular song by the Byrds, a rock group in the 1960s. The lyrics are taken from one of my favorite passages in the Old Testament: Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8. I like that passage so much, I had it read at my wedding (though you don’t typically see that as a choice in Catholic wedding liturgies).
Why do I like it so much? I suppose because it keeps me balanced. If I’m experiencing down times right now – don’t worry – things will eventually start looking up. And by the same token, if things are going well – stay humble – since suffering remains a part of life. All of these moments, however, are part of the gift of life that God has given us, and it’s still a life worth living.
Many of us are familiar with the litany of verses:
For everything there is a season,
and a time for every activity under heaven.
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 up.
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 seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to discard.
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.
But there’s a line at the end I like that doesn’t get as much attention, which I find just as meaningful:
I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God.
To me at least, this is the refrain that gets me through each day. Yes, days will have their toil, but in each one I can look for opportunities to do good, and see the beauty that God has created around me. Thanks God, for that gift!
How will you be spending your day?