At this time of year in the Wimmera, it seems that it is all about ‘endings’. End of school. End of spring. End of waiting for crops to ripen.
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Some endings are long awaited for, like the end of school and university and ‘Yes’ VCE exams will end eventually too. Hard work behind you, you look for results, and university placements. You dare to hope for a renewed future.
Some endings are planned for, like leaving a job and moving house. There is excitement and anticipation all wound up together. There are long, sad goodbyes to friends. Frantic packing. There is worry about the unknown ahead, but you move bravely toward a new tomorrow.
Other endings are unexpected and unwanted, like the sudden death of a son, a friend. When we are shocked at our loss, pain wells up inside, and we think that there is no way out. You long for a different ending for the one you love.
When words do not come, when there are no words.
When there are no words we often send flowers instead… which brings us to loss of property by fire and vandalism.
The loss of good crops to frost and hail, when hard work seems wasted.
When it all is unjust, makes no sense, and anger wells up inside.
To all these endings Jesus Christ speaks these words, “I am coming soon. I am the ‘A’ and the ‘Z’, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” (Rev 22:13)
It is a vision of hope to the Christian and words of comfort for us all. Whenever life gets too messy it reminds us, in the end, God makes all things possible. That God can take our messy lives and make them new.
God gives rest to the hard worker. Gives courage to the faint-hearted. Gives hope for those who mourn. Bring justice and renewal to those who yearn for a better way.
No matter what ends or fades away, we are assured… God will be with us.