#9 A New Normal, Transition to the second set of three.

The transition from day three, to day four is a disappointment for the logical thinker. We noted how everything suddenly made logical sense in day three when water, light, air and bare ground suddenly yielded the new life of vegetation. For the naturalist the hope is that we have turned a corner and the logical growth of our enterprise will continue. Having suffered through day one and day two he grasps the results of day three as proof of better days ahead.

In day four however things on earth see no improvement at all and instead new lights appear in the sky overhead. The naturalist has run into a day that is all about setting standards. Most importantly standards of time. Long term, the benefits of this day will become evident, but in the moment, day four is a disappointment for anyone seeking a continuation or improvement on the first set of three days.

Indeed day four is the beginning of its own set of three days and in many respects just as the light of day one exposed chaos and signaled that order was about to begin, so also the lights of day four signal an opportunity to order, the most difficult concept of time.

The element of time in our world is a mystery, more often, simply accepted than explored. More often taken for granted as normal, than thought of as extraordinary. In order to harness this component of our lives, we moderns have created a calendar which, using mathematical dates, simply moves forward in a steady march, adding one day to the next, one month to the next and one year to the next.

We barely think of the celestial bodies as time setters and it seldom occurs to us that in some way, we may have lived this day before or that history may have clues for us based on the rhythms of the celestial time setters. Therefore we miss many opportunities for new beginnings and sound endings. As a result our transitions in life are chaotic, halfhearted and often forced due to circumstance.

And no wonder since by the end of day four our natural eyes have seen one day, “day three” in which new life has been evidenced. Three of four have been seemingly sterile or inert. Our patience continues to be tested. It’s obvious now that day one and two where necessary for the new life of day three. Day four returns us to testing mode and requires more grit and determination.  As our story develops it will also become obvious, that the time setters of day four will also be of great value.

We are about to experience life very unlike the life we were so happy about back in day three. Day four is a time to set standards and consider the times, look back over previous cycles and set out on a new or maybe altered path. Like day one it’s a new beginning and we will need all our tools and resources for success when day five is revealed.