What Goes Around…

Elijah’s dog Puff has puppies one year later

“What goes around, comes around.” I’ve repeated that phrase countless times. Maybe you have, too. I understand the basic meaning, but there’s something more significant to it. It reminds me of a boomerang. And it reminds me of the recurring seasons of life. I am going to call it the Law of Cycles.

Think about your day yesterday. You awoke, you did a variety of things (some of which you do every single day), and then you went back to sleep. Today you will cycle through much of the same routine. As life marches forward, it only seems to move on a straight line through what becomes the history of our lives.

Each hour cycles through 60 minutes, and 24 of those hours will complete the daily cycle. Weeks fold into months, and months fold into seasons. As I write this, I am experiencing the beauty and splendor of a Minnesota Autumn. It seems such a short time ago when I was enjoying last year’s Fall weather and football season with Elijah.

How quickly this year has passed. But we can’t just walk in a straight line away from our painful memories. The year has cycled through all the same recurring events that evoke memories and reminders of our dear son. Each major life event requires that we survive the cycle of memories. Christmas, New Years, Easter and Mother’s and Father’s Days. His birthday last month was especially difficult, and next month we face the first anniversary of his death.

Life seems more like a spiral of significant events, recurring in succession as we move towards a new way of measuring time in Heaven. For now, we live in cycles. Joyful moments are swallowed up by painful events which are eventually overwhelmed by unforeseen blessings. Last night we survived the chaos and excitement of new puppies, born to Elijah’s dog Puff. Next month his sister, Brittany, will give birth to a son due to be born on the very day that we lost Elijah.

“Whatever is has already been,
and what will be has been before;
and God will call the past to account” (Eccl 3:15)

We can’t avoid the future, and we can’t outrun the past. The past will always find ways to reach out and touch our present moments. And the future will always require us to walk through events that evoke all those crazy memories. Time marches on, but it’s path seems to take the shape of a Slinky.

One thing I’ve learned for sure: Just as Winter always turns to Spring, so our tears will turn to laughter. As Jesus said, “You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy” (John 16:20).

It’s the Law of Cycles. No single season lasts forever. That’s how God designed it. Never lose hope.

Please ‘like’ and ‘share’ this post as you find it helpful and inspiring. Thank you.

-Ken Buchanan