Isn’t time a funny thing? I’ve yielded to the wisdom of the saying many have heard I feel sure- “the days are long, but the years are short.” This is a quote from Gretchen Rubin, whom I had never heard of until I looked up the originator of this quote. She appears to be a very accomplished lawyer and author. I don’t know much more that than, except her quote is very wise.
Time is a funny thing, and certainly a moment can seem to last forever, and ages ago can seem like yesterday. It really depends on one’s perspective, and the nature of the moment. A young parent struggling to get any sleep at all as their newborn cries all night experiences long days for sure! The same parent sitting at a stop light that is red for 5 seconds, who is late for work, may say those seconds feel like hours. But when that same parent looks up at their child graduating high school, they wonder how time ever moved so fast!
We mark time because of the effect it has on us. Consider, if it wasn’t for the curse of sin, which leads to death, time would be of little consequence. If we never grow old, the passing of each day would arguably be meaningless. But we do age, as do the ones we love. St. James writes:
Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” (James 4:13-15, ESV)
If the Lord wills......
So often the urgency of the moment and the finality of an event or situation can inspire our wills to supersede the Lord’s will. Parents struggle to let their children grow and to come into their own. Children struggle to leave the shelter of their parents to venture out and find their way. Most friendships enjoy seasons that are one day strong and later fade. I think of Alan Jackson’s song “Remember When” (you can hear it here).
The blessing is in the moment. In The Screwtape Letters (C. S. Lewis), Wormwood is taught by Screwtape “For the Present is the point at which time touches eternity.” He says this so that his junior demon nephew realizes the impact of the Christian living in the moment, as one who is keeping in step with the Spirit (note this is my interpretation).
Today, as we begin the week, let’s spend our day considering the benefits of the moment, the time that we are given, and how it is lessened by the expectations of tomorrow or the sorrows of yesterday.
Our verse today for reflection is Psalm 90:12 (ESV) and I’d encourage everyone to spend some time praying Psalm 90 also (HERE):
So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.
Most Merciful Father, help us find the value in our moment, and teach us to have a heart to do Your will in wisdom; through Christ Jesus our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit are One God, now and forever. AMEN.