Often from the ruins of one era, a new one springs to life. Can you see this cycle of decay and revival in any of the families you know? In your own life?

I think we have all see the end and begining of an era within our own families.  An end of an era can occur with the death of a beloved relative, and a beginigng of a new one can quickly come with the birth of a new generation into a family.  This can also happen with the change of an occupation.  In my own family, an end of an era came upon us when my dad was let go from working for a life insurance company for  ten years.  Thankfully a few years back, a begining of an era was waiting in the wings for him when he got a call to be an interim pastor for two churches in the southern part of the state.  He has served a few other interim positions since then, but now he is a designated minister for a church not too far from home and hopefully by the end of the year, that position will become more full-time.  So we can say that and end to an era is about to come along with the begining of a new and joyful one!