Time Passages

Time is on my side, yes it is.
Time is on my side, yes it is.
Rolling Stones 1964

Let me start up front with a confession: I am not a patient person. Never have been and don’t expect to become one anytime soon. And don’t ask me why, I’ve just always been a rather impatient soul it seems. If the world is in a hurry these days, I’ve only to look in the mirror to point a finger at one of those responsible for the frenzied pace.

I got to thinking about it during a moment at work this week. I was re-booting my computer (the only thing I know to do when it messes up) and it seemed to take forever to go through the process. Actually, it was just a few moments. But it seemed like hours to me, Mr. Impatient.

Don’t even get me started with traffic. As you might have guessed, I’m not one of those folks plodding along in the right hand lane within the posted speed limit. Unfortunately, I’m more apt to be the one weaving through the traffic, riding someone’s bumper and testing the limits of my blood pressure medication. Why? I haven’t a good answer. Because we’re talking about driving this way to work. To work. And it’s not like I’m runnning late; in fact I’m usually early. That’s another one of my better habits, which I came by honestly from my father, who was early to everything. I recall being somewhat annoyed as a kid when we were always among the first families at church on Sunday mornings.

I walk fast too. Just ask my wife or my co-workers. They joke about my pace, like I’m on my way to a fire or something. Don’t know why; just always walked fast. Never running, mind you, but fast walking always.

Be still and know that I am God… Be still and know that I am God… Be still and know that I am God… Be still and know that I am God.

I know that you are God, it’s this “be still” thing I’m having trouble with.

Time is something that all of us deal with, dread, plan for, don’t have enough of, regret, look forward to, waste and cherish among other things. We “don’t have time” for this or “look forward to the time” when we’ll do that. Remember “that time” when and how about “time was” back in my day.

Time, it seems, is a currency. Like money, most of us never have quite enough. Unlike money, you can’t really hoard or stockpile time. We can’t put away a few years that we’ll save and redeem later. Might need to “cash in” a few time chips if I get an unpleasant diagnosis from the doctor. That sort of thing. Can’t do it.

Why do we have to be given some terminally ill diagnosis to be convinced to “live in the moment”? I’m guilty of wasting too much time. I’m guilty of failing to live in the moment and for the moment. I’ve caught myself looking ahead and thinking, yeah, I’ll do this and that once I retire. Have you ever done that? What makes me think I’ll live to retirement age? I know and understand it’s prudent to plan, financially and otherwise. But I can’t count on tomorrow.

My dear friend and former pastor, the late Rev. Bruce Dodge, was fond of saying, “I don’t know what the future holds, but I know who holds the future.” Amen Brother Bruce.

Our heavenly Father not only cares about our time in this life, He created it.

And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as
signs to mark seasons and days and years.”
Genesis 1:14

God does not, however keep track of time like you and I do. The creator doesn’t need a wrist watch, a stop watch or an hour glass. Peter reminds us that with the Lord, a thousand years is like a day and a day is like a thousand years. (2Peter 3:8)

I’ve always loved and enjoyed the beauty of nature. God’s creation is awesome to behold and dwell upon. Since getting very interested in photography, I’ve come to really appreciate the gorgeous colors and skies that God blesses us with on a daily basis. But I must take time to enjoy them. I have managed to grab my camera and shoot some sunrises and sunsets, while also pausing to ponder the magnificence of creation and the creator.

The old Jim Croce song goes, “If I could save time in a bottle… the first thing that I’d like to do…. ”

Truth is, we can’t save time in a bottle, as much as we’d all like to. We have this moment and nothing more. Embrace it. Use it wisely.

I plan on trying to slow down in these remaining days before Easter to consider the love that was sacrificed for me and for you.
That is the one thing that truly matters in our worries about chasing time. The death of Jesus Christ on the cross bought us an eternity of joy.

- Steve Fandel

About

Welcome, and thanks for dragging yourself over to Live|Bold! My name is Greg Arnold and I am pumped to see you here. This interactive online community is here to point every man toward the cross. Whether you have been a follower of Christ for ages, or you are just stumbling into this strange new world of faith, we have something of value to offer you. This online e-zine is a cross between a blog, a social network, a resource center, and a pulpit. My hope is to inspire you to live your faith on the outside and be a real man for God. We need you in the fight.