Ecclesiates 3:1-4 (KJV)
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which 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..,”
Solomon wrote the book of Ecclesiastes and included an often quoted chapter where he pairs words for our contemplation (verses 1-8). All of the pairings are dichotomous, mutually exclusive of each other yet tied together by their extremes.
Most recently, these scriptures have become more significant to me as I wrestled with the passing of two close relatives. As I looked for comfort and a better understanding in these moments of grief, I began looking closer at this chapter. I could clearly see that there is “a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up. But when I read “a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,” it caused me to pause. I was going through the process of grieving and it seemed to me that it would have been more appropriate if Solomon would have paired weep with mourn and laugh with dance. The way they are presented in times of grief make an unusual pair.
What I experienced was spelled out in the text; I had all of the emotions, weeping and laughting, and mourning and dancing. Those emotions are diametrically opposed to one another, they are a dichotomy and should not exist in the same space at the same time. Yet, there they were, weeping and laughing, mourning and dancing mingling together. So I asked, “How could this be?” I prayed and meditated even more, looking for a spiritual and scriptural understanding. Suddenly, I got it! I understood! My eyes were filled with tears, but there was laughter in my soul. My heart was mourning, but there was dancing in my feet.
Then I came across Paul’s letter to the Corinthian church. He wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:56-57 (NKJV), “The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” There it is! When someone has a personal relationship with the Creator, death is defeated.
I finally understood that I wept because I’ll miss my family, but I laugh because there’s an eternal home that they have inherited; I mourn because they left a void that cannot be filled, but I dance because the grief of death is replaced by the joy of the Lord. Weep and laugh, mourn and dance — an unusual pair.
Be Blessed!
Rev. J. Loren Russell is an associate minister at both Goodwill and The Greater Universal Baptist Churches in the Bronx, President/CEO of The JLR Company for Church Financial & Strategic Consulting, and hosts “Matters of Faith – The Radio Show” on Soul 1 Radio (internet), Mondays 8:00 – 10:00 PM. Listen here or by phone at 626-226-1448. Be sure to friend “Matters of Faith” on Facebook and email us at mattersoffaith.mof@gmail.com. You can also use the email to order his new book, Matters of Faith: The Book.
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