What is lent?

Ecclesiastes 3:1-11

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: 2 a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, 3 a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, 4 a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, 5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, 6 a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, 7 a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, 8 a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. 9 What does the worker gain from his toil? 10 I have seen the burden God has laid on men. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time."I must confess: Today was the first time I actually read this verse from the good book. Thus I never noticed till now that after the whole chunk of 'a time for ____', verse 11 says "He has made everything beautiful in its time."

That, to me changes my entire understanding of Ecc 3. Now I understand what Solomon was trying to say: There WILL be times where we laugh, cry, jump for joy, curse and swear etc. Times when we just want to give up, times when we suffer hardships beyond our ability to bear.

But at the end, everything will be made perfect. Beautiful. That, to me is my first lesson this lent - a reminder that in every season of the soul, God will still be God.