A Time to Harvest

The theme for this month's blog chain (read the others in the chain as noted to the right)is harvest which is why I have included this picture depicting the crisp bright colors of the harvest season - the deep reds, the lush orange and yellow and just the hint of brown. It's a time to celebrate the bounty of growing season. In the new area where I live every weekend in October seems to have one group or another who is celebrating with a harvest festival.

According to Wikipedia, harvest is the process of gathering mature crops from the fields. Reaping is the cutting of grain or pulse for harvest, typically using a scythe, sickle, or reaper. Harvest thus marks the end of the growing season and growth cycle. Then there is another harvest symbol known as the grim reaper who bears a scythe. His part of a harvest of sorts is cutting down those at the end of their life cycle.

As the words in the old tune by The Byrds (taken from Bible verses)there is a time for every purpose...a time to live and a time to die. Most people when attending the end of life cycle event(IE funeral) are sober and full of sadness. But that is not the way a death is celebrated with a New Orleans funeral march. It does start with the funeral dirge going to the cemetery but once it is done they finish with joyous music -- the most notable tune "When the Saints Come Marching In." These funerals show the sadness of the loss of the physical presence of the the loved one, but they also go on to celebrate the joy that the loved one is now experiencing in being in heaven.

I went to a funeral of a dear aunt of mine when I was six years old. She was a Christian as was my whole family at the time. I remember everyone crying and saying how sad it was that she had died. That perplexed me and I asked why everyone was so sad if they believed that she was now in heaven with Jesus. That sounded perfectly wonderful to me.

Of course now I understand the more personal aspect of missing the person who you will not be seeing any more this side of heaven. Today I am more grieved when I hear of a funeral of someone who is not a Christian believer. There are many religions in the world who give you a road map to your final harvest reaping that is based on your good works balancing out your bad ones. But how good do you have to be to tip the scales?

Christianity is the only religion that isn't based on achieving nirvana by checking off a list of appropriate deeds or actions. It all boils down to just one belief which is accepting Christ as your personal Savior and loving others as He loved us. It's not an exclusive club, the thief on the cross who died with Jesus that day gained paradise or heaven. Ordinary fisherman, tax collectors, world leaders and those who once persecuted Christians have turned to accept Christ and His offer of salvation.

Everyone will have a final harvest in their life. When your harvest is done how will you be celebrating? Will there be tears or joy? We each make our own choice. What will be the dawn for your eternity. I've made my choice. What will yours be?