阅读经文 

有时候，尽管我们很想试图保持现状，但我们必须面对现实：变化是生活不可避免的一部分。青少年被鼓励“行万里路”，而“空巢老人”也逐渐习惯了孩子离家后不再一样的生活节奏。然而，一旦到了该改变的时候，我们往往也会抗拒。

先知耶利米提到了鹳鸟、斑鸠、燕子和白鹤，将它们聪明的举动与离弃耶和华的人的愚蠢行为进行了对比。耶利米哀叹他周围的人反应迟钝、缺乏智慧，因为“他们弃绝了耶和华的话”。先知实际上是在说：“连鸟儿都知道该做什么，而这些人太愚笨了！”每件事都有其适合的季节，我们的任务就是分辨当下处在什么季节而后行事。

我在这里邀请你思考一下自己处在什么季节。是忏悔的季节吗？是放手的季节吗？是回转的季节吗？使徒保罗鼓励教会要“警醒不倦”，为彼此“祈求”，为圣灵带领我们去做的事做好准备。（参弗 6:18）

Sometimes, as much as we want to hold on to the way things are, we must face the reality that change is a part of life. Teenagers are encouraged to "leave the nest," and "empty nesters" gradually become used to different rhythms in life as their children leave home. Still, even when it's time for a change, we can tend to resist it.

The prophet Jeremiah refers to storks, doves, swifts, and thrushes, contrasting their wise behaviors with the foolishness of people who have turned away from the Lord. Jeremiah laments the thick-skulled attitudes of the people around him, who lack wisdom because "they have rejected the word of the Lord." The prophet is saying, in effect, "Even the birds know what needs to be done, but these people are so stubborn!" There is a season for everything, and it's our task to recognize what season it is.

The invitation here is to consider what season it is for each of us. Is it time to repent? Is it time to relinquish? Is it time to restore? The apostle Paul encourages the church to "be alert and always keep on praying" for each other as a way of being ready for whatever the Spirit will lead us to do. (see Ephesians 6:18)