Faith: May God grant wisdom to know 'times and seasons'

In the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes, the wise man wrote many things that will tax most people’s wisdom. Trying to understand is worth the effort. But I most often find myself gravitating to his words in Ecclesiastes 3 where he writes, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens...”

He goes on to list a slew of activities with which we all identify. And we all recognize the wisdom of those who know “when the time is right.”

No surprise, this wise man said nothing about the right time to put up a Christmas tree, but I’ve always looked forward to that time. Maybe you can file this seasonal endeavor under the category of “a season for every activity.”

This year at our house, we were slow putting up the Christmas tree. Maybe our tardiness was partly due to the fact that it’s a new tree, bought at the end of the season last year when trees went on sale. I wasn’t sure what we were going to get into, but I was very sure after last year’s battle with the maddening lights on the old tree that we were done with that one. The decision came even after I’d snipped all the pre-strung lights off of the old one. You’ll only try that once, but you’ll gain some wisdom the hard way, which is the preferred method for most of us.

So, we finally jumped in a few days ago and unpacked the new tree. We even read some of the directions. The wise man might have done well to add to his long list, “There is a time to read directions.”

Most families have long-enduring customs about how to put up the family Christmas tree. When I was growing up, years before “pre-lit” described Christmas trees and ours came complete only with pine sap, it was clear to me that the family member in charge of stringing the lights bore great responsibility.

Exactly when that honor became mine, I can’t say, but I rightly felt that a “rite of passage” had come my way. And the lights were lit just fine that year, still I suppose to my sister’s high standards as I was promoted, her tree-lighting apprentice.

That’s another story. She was the unquestioned queen of the whole decking-the-family-tree process.

I remember those ancient lights. My younger brother still has a string of our family’s old lights that each year he ceremonially plugs in, at least for a while, lest their old wiring go awry. Plugging them in is an act of faith and a salute to our heritage.

This new tree has modern lights, the sort that can change color at the flip of a switch. The symphony of color doesn’t begin to compare with the angelic glory igniting the night sky and washing over awe-struck shepherds.

It’s barely a twinkle compared to the glory that surrounds the giving of God’s best Gift. But eyes open to receiving that divine presence also become able to perceive even the smallest joy-reflections of the greatest Light as its eternal essence infuses every good gift.

May God grant each of us wisdom to discern “the times and the seasons” in our lives. May he light our way. And may even the smallest lights of joy this Christmas remind us to give thanks for the wisdom and love of the eternal One who “when the time had fully come, sent forth his Son” (Galatians 4).

Curtis Shelburne writes about faith for The Eastern New Mexico News. Contact him at:

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