Today marks the beginning on the new academic year for most state schools in England. Schools in Scotland have been back already for a few weeks.
September marks the move from holiday time to going back to school and the start on new things – new uniform, new bag and pencil case, new year group. As we grow up and leave the school system September brings its own ‘newness’ in that it marks the start of the weather changing and if the supermarkets are anything to go by, the countdown to All Hallows Eve and Christmas!
We tend to think of having a ‘new start’ at the end of the year. Yet it doesn’t have to be a ‘once a year’ thing. We can decide to start something new or re visit an old hobby or lifestyle choice at any time of year. We don’t have to wait for a New Year or new term to do that.
One of my favourite books in the Bible is in the Old Testament called Ecclesiastes (thankfully my spell check knows what I mean when I try to spell it)! Chapter 3 is entitled A time for everything. In a nutshell it is about the fact that there is time for everything under God. Verses 6 and 7 say ths,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak.
As this new academic year begins let me add to the list in Ecclesiastes as a prayer that God will be with us in all do this year.
A time to start new things and a time to stop
A time to be afraid and a time to flourish
A time to rest and a time to be active
Amen.
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