The Time of My Life
If you have not already said it out loud, you are likely thinking it: Where has this summer gone?
Like sands through the hourglass, so are the days of our lives. If that phrase recalls a long-running and still popular daytime soap opera, you are not alone. The continuous flow of sand highlights how quickly time passes and emphasizes that our lives are constantly moving forward. Time is a precious and non-renewable resource, continually reminding us that we are mortal. Carpe diem - seize the day – warns us to make the most of our limited time on earth. Stop wasting time, dreading the future, agonizing over the past. Quit procrastinating in the pursuit of our goals. Do not hold grudges against others.
Recently my daily reflections and other readings have inspired me to take a closer look at the concept of time. Am I rushing around, trying to beat the clock, working to accomplish….what?! Am I using my time wisely, especially in designating time for prayer and listening to God’s word? Do I begrudge giving time to others, especially when it does not fit into my timetable?
The following is from my current favorite book of daily reflections by Henri Nouwen, entitled You Are The Beloved. Nouwen is commenting on our all too human concerns with clock-time, which is based on our earthly allotment of time.
But looked at from above, from God’s perspective, our clock-time is embedded in the timeless embrace of God. Our years on earth offer the opportunity to claim for ourselves the love that God offers us from eternity to eternity.
Wow. How am I claiming God’s amazing love for myself each day? This must involve recognizing that God’s love is already present in the world and in others. Then I must strive to reflect that love in my words and actions back into the world. May I also grow in the virtue of trust…trusting in God’s love, his generosity, and always perfect timing.
May God’s (eternal) time become my time. Let me not focus so much on the temporal time clock that I set and check and double check but instead become aware of the ways I can sync my daily schedule with His eternal plan.