Seasons of Opportunity

We are in a season when we find ourselves surrounded by a plenitude of berries of all kinds. Over the course of these three summer months you are likely to find baskets, bowls and tubs of fresh strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, marionberries and boysenberries in my refrigerator. They grow wild along the roads and in yards across our region. When we trek out to the farmer's markets we consistently return with more than we can consume, but the fragrance and colorful beauty draws me in each time. Today I know there are three varieties in my refrigerator, but I also know that one of those needs to be tossed out...it's day is done, the end is near.

When you look at the berries on the vines, you can also see the many stages, or seasons of the fruit. At any time you can find an orchestra of color on one vine - green, white, red, purple, blue. You will also find the stages ranging from about to enter its prime season to shriveled up and useless.

Our opportunities in life are similar. We will have countless opportunities for many things throughout our lifetime, but it takes wisdom to discern when it is the right season for a particular path. When something presents itself before you, you may know that it is a yes step...but is it the right season? While it may be aromatic and enticing, is it perfectly ripe and the right season or is it about to mold and you should wait?

Maybe your car is not fairing too well and you have the opportunity to purchase a great used car from a reliable source, but to do so would put you into debt and stretch your payments so that you have to add another job and give up time with an ailing parent. Right opportunity, but is it the right season to say yes?

This summer, when an opportunity shows up on your doorstep, consider asking yourself one more question before jumping on board. Is this the right season for this particular opportunity?