In "The Phantom Tollbooth", by Norton Juster, the Watchdog, Tock, makes a profound statement to Milo, the main character. In response to Milo's answer about what he was doing, Tock replies, "Isn't it bad enough wasting time without killing it?!?"
Time, now there is a real conundrum. I was trying to think of all the sayings, cliches, etc that involve time.
This all came up as we were watching the movie "Into the Wild" about a young man who wants to throw off all encoumberances of society and live off the land in Alaska. I couldn't get over the fact that he still continued to wear his watch! Let's move to Alaska and live off the land, but we still need to keep our schedule?!? I guess I don't get it. Now I'm one of the lucky ones who can't wear a watch. They just don't seem to work when I wear them. I've had digital, wind up, and battery powered analog. They seem to loose time, run intermittently or just stop all together. I guess I am a negative polarity person (maybe from a parallel dimension where the poles are reversed? - wait I saw that on the Twilight Zone).
So, what is our fasination with time? I think it is really because God put eternity in our hearts, but we see our mortality staring us in the face every day. (Ecc 3:11)
In our society, we are fixated on time. Have you ever noticed. You see it on your arm, bank signs, your car dashboard, your phone, why you can even call a phone number and get it if you can't find it any other place!
How do you spend your time. Is it some commodity? You know, we each start the day with the same amount of it! Talk about a true level playing field? Do you invest your time? Maybe in your work? How about in your family? I spend too much of it watching TV. How about you? Do you spend time cultivating relationships? Do you spend it speaking with your Creator? How about studying His Word? Now that's an investment with some real eternal returns!
Now here is a good questions. Why do we drive to the gym so we can workout? Are we saving time by driving there? Why not just run there and get the extra benefit of the exercise? Do we have our lives so scheduled and compartmentalized that we have to schedule our leisure time as well? God commanded us to take a sabbath. Did you ever stop to thing what that means? (Exo 20:9) God knew we would burn out if we didn't stop to catch our breath. We need time to rest, reflect, rejuvenate, be with Him. Good plan God! Too bad we just don't have the time!
Maybe you just need a time out? Does that stop time so we can continue when time starts back up? Or do you just need a minute? I can give you one of mine. Maybe that's what we should do! If you see someone struggling because they don't have enough time, give them some of yours. It's called service! Are you a servant?
Perhaps you would be a servant if it was the right time, but you see this is just the wrong time, I'm out of time, in a real time curnch. What about that sabbath? Did you forget? Do you need to put that on your calendar with a reminder? I do! Or is this just not a good time to help. You know, bad timing and all. I'll help when I have some spare time. Don't wait too long. Time, and tide wait for no one!
Now here is a confession. I started this blog on February 18. Here it is March 5. What with the phone ringing, emails to answer, facebook to post, cruises to go on, errands to run, meals to cook and eat, etc., things just never get done in a timely fashion. I was reading in James this morning. Talk about God's timing!
From Eugene Peterson's The Message:
James 4:13 And now I have a word for you who brashly announce, "Today -- at the latest, tomorrow -- we're off to such and such a city for the year. We're going to start a business and make a lot of money."
14 You don't know the first thing about tomorrow. You're nothing but a wisp of fog, catching a brief bit of sun before disappearing.
15 Instead, make it a habit to say, "If the Master wills it and we're still alive, we'll do this or that."
16 As it is, you are full of your grandiose selves. All such vaunting self-importance is evil.
17 In fact, if you know the right thing to do and don't do it, that, for you, is evil.
So, will you ask God how you should spend your time, that gift from Him, today? I think I will. Maybe if I keep in touch with Him, it won't be 3 weeks before you hear from me again. Then again....
Blessings until we meet again. God be with you!
