The folk-rock group of the mid 1960s to the early 70s, the Byrds, came out with a stream of hit tunes. Probably, the most famous being, Turn, Turn, Turn from 1967. This song was a reflection of the times when protests over the Vietnam War were rampant across our country. The melody and vocals of this hit song are unforgettable once you start to hum it, and the words cemented this song in rock & roll history.

Taken from a book of the Bible, Ecclesiastes (Greek for Preacher or Teacher), the words and wisdom of King Solomon force us to examine time and events, and their effect upon man. Although not written verbatim, but pretty close, the only major change comes in the last stanza where the lyricist replaces, “…a time for war, and a time for peace…” with ” a time for peace, I swear it’s not too late”.

The verse which best fits this time of year, the changing of seasons from Summer to Fall, is actually found in all of the verses because the dynamic revealed in each stanza is occurring somewhere in the world at this very moment. The cast iron planter above reflects several of the symbols found in the words of  this section of scripture and song. Autumn can be so beautiful and the earth so generous. Thanks be to God !

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to pluck up what is planted;

a time to kill and a time to heal; a time to break 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 cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; 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 cast away; 

a time to tear and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.