Valuable time


            I was raised by a very punctual mother. My siblings and I learned that if you weren’t thirty minutes early for anything; you were late. I am still a punctual person and I believe being punctual also demonstrates respect for others, it respects their time. Another saying that people are probably familiar with is that “time is money.” My preference is that time is valuable.
·         To the person stuck in traffic but trying to make a flight at the airport.
·         To the patient in pain waiting for a doctor to prescribe medicine to relieve the pain.
·         To anyone on the opposite side of the bathroom door from where they need to be.
·         To the last-minute Christmas shopper, searching for a specific gift.
·         To the baker with a delicate treat in the oven.
·         To the person with a terminal diagnosis.
Obviously, I could go on and on; we have all been caught in the snare known as time. Now, consider the time we waste. I am guilty of this as much as anyone. The idea of wasted time is somewhat subjective; where I might consider watching a sporting event a waste of time, another will find it the best time of their weekend. What must be considered is that when one lays their head down to sleep and they look back on their wakeful hours; are they satisfied with how they spent their time?
Ecclesiastes 3:1 “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.” God has provided us with time and seasons. We are currently in one of my favorite seasons, but it is also a season that brings out grumpiness. Our focus gets skewed as we get caught in crowds and long lines and get annoyed. (Chief of sinners though I be, long lines are the worst for me.)  What if we change our thinking to realize how abundantly blessed, we are that we have the privilege to be in line and have a shopping cart before us? (I’m convincing myself here too.) We have the privilege to be friendly with the other people in line and make their day better by being positive, smiling or pointing out something good. We have the privilege to influence the cashier’s day for the positive by giving her or him a cheerful greeting, calling her by name or giving eye contact.  These are very simple ideas, yet they add so much value to your time and that of those around you. It requires a little effort and great intentionality and you may never see the end product, but you will know in your heart that for that space of time we often consider wasted, you made a difference to someone, not to mention yourself. Time is a privilege, a gift and we ought to make the most of it. Another obvious consideration in all this talk about time is; Mark 13:23-33 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come.” Our days and hours are numbered people; make them count.


                                                       
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