to everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven

I hear that line (from Ecclesiastes 3:1) in the voice of Judy Collins; my parents preferred hers to the Byrds version - but we owned both these albums, and a best of Pete Seeger that had Pete's original 1959 rendition of this beautiful poem from the Bible; the only additional words being the 'turn, turn, turn' refrain and the haunting 'a time for peace/I swear it's not too late' that ends the song.

                                                          

 





It's remarkable to me how evocative both those album covers are. I'm going to have to ask my dad to get out the record player next time we're in Whaingaroa (Raglan) so I can listen to them as they were played to me in the 1970s and 1980s.

 

But why this song? Why today? Our family have been through a hard season, and have come out the other side this week. We have had a time to mourn, and now have a time to dance.

 

More importantly, today is the last day to make a submission on the Marriage Equality Bill currently before Parliament.

 

'there is a time for silence and a time to speak'

 

Now is a time to speak. To tell our Government that now is the season to redefine marriage, because everyone deserves to be able to commit to the person they love, and protect and celebrate their family with this human institution.

 

 

Have a wonderful weekend with your family xx