Seasons

Before we kept all our contact information in computers, many of our friends liked to show us their address books. They would turn to the entry for “Cox” and show us what a mess it was on that page. Their point was that we have moved so many times that they did not have enough room in their address books. My response was simple—write in pencil! Years ago Cheryl and I counted the times we have moved. It is embarrassing to tell how many times we have changed addresses in the last 37 years. Interestingly enough, during those 37 years since we first moved to France, I have only worked for three different organizations. However, most of those moves came while working overseas and living in six countries.

My dad has called us gypsies for many years—I don’t think it is a compliment! We have three personal mailing addresses now, so we continue to propagate the idea of mobility.  It is really not about mobility, but it is about seasons of life.

As I talk with young leaders I enjoy reminding them that life is full of seasons. Just like the seasons of the year, one season follows another, and some seasons are better than others for us. God walks us through many seasons in our lives, and sometimes those seasons overlap. When we return to Rome, Georgia in three weeks, we will be entering into a season of family time. Allison is getting married—oh happy day—and all our immediate family will be together for a short time for the wedding. That does not happen very often.

It will also be a very busy season at WinShape. Our campus at Berry College will be bustling with the arrival of over 400 college students who will work in one of our two resident camps or with our Camps for Communities in 63 cities around the USA.  It is a season of international projects. As we return home WinShape International will have projects going on in Kenya, Zambia, Peru and Greece. IMPACT 360 will end its sixth season soon, and WinShape College Program will launch another large group of students into the world.

Seasons come and seasons end. Some get more attention because we experience challenges, but the Father is in control of the seasons. This time of treatment in Florida is a short season in our lives, and it is one-half over today. I had treatment #14, and I am scheduled to have 28 treatments. Thank you, Lord, for this season in our lives.