Coding, Managing and Christianity

Fall is upon us

Today is one of those fall days in New England that I especially value. It was cold when I left the house for work at around 7am and it soon will be time to wear gloves and a hat. At the same time there is not a cloud in the sky and one could see for miles. It would be the perfect day to go flying. Some of the leaves are turning their color and more will follow soon. During the day the mercury will climb to somewhere in the low 20°C range. I love those days and they are one of the reasons why I live here. My recollections of fall in Munich are gray days, low hanging clouds, windy and wet. Right now is Oktoberfest (which is at the end of September) in Munich and during that time, the weather often is similarly beautiful, but October and November are usually dreary.

It made me think about the cycle of birth, youth, maturity, aging, and finally death. For a leaf it all takes place within 6 month or so, for some insects it’s just one day and for us it takes on average 79 years. Everything in life is cyclical and many small cycles make up bigger cycles, like days turning into years. For us most of such cycles have their origin in the earth rotating around the sun in an eclipse, while at the same time rotating around its own axis. The sun goes through cycles too and at some point will also die, which will be the end of all life on earth.

Everything in nature goes through those cycles and lives in lock step with them, like animals that grow thicker fur, or hibernate during the winter. Others are very busy stashing food for the winter during the summer. We humans did too when we were still mainly farmers, but that has changed. We tend to ignore the seasons, light up the night with neon and continue the same routine day in and day out. We have the clothes to stay warm, heated houses and means of transportation, that protect us from the elements. Even most produce is available year round, only the price changes slightly, because we have to transport it from further away.

We live longer now than ever before in history (ignoring for a moment the 800 years old guys in the Old Testament), or our cycle time has increased, if you will. However, I wonder whether it is good for us to ignore the seasons as we do. Maybe it would be better for us to sleep more during the shorter days and eat different and perhaps less foods. God created life as it is, but we do our best to ignore the natural cycles. Isn’t that defying him? It seems that we are missing something significant by living this way. One thing I learned over the years is that I’m far better off following God’s plan. If I don’t, it always goes along with damaged relationships and pain. What would happen if I worked only 5 or 6 hours a day October to March and 10 to 12 hours per day for the rest of the year? That is where my selfishness kicks in, because I want to have more time to myself during the summer to enjoy and relax. If one was a farmer, the harvest needed to be brought in, when it was ready and not when it was convenient, but that pressure isn’t there in an office job.

God told us “fill the earth and subdue it” (Genesis 1), do our work out of reference for God (Colossians 3), and don’t be lazy (Proverbs 10 & 12).

Genesis 1:27-28

So God created mankind in his own image,     in the image of God he created them;     male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”

Colossians 3:22-24

Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving

Proverbs 10:4-5

Lazy hands make for poverty,     but diligent hands bring wealth. He who gathers crops in summer is a prudent son,     but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.

I don’t think he meant to live against nature, but with it. I don’t have any good conclusion to offer, not even a specific point, just a lot of things to contemplate. Any feedback and insight is highly appreciated.