What Do We Do with Time?

What Do We Do with Time?

The late USC professor, Leo Buscaglia, once wrote: “Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.” Given this observation, we might describe each of our actions as rhythmic; that is, each speaks to the reality of the here-and-now while also empowering a future yet to unfold (Psalm 139:16). I wonder how many of us see things from this perspective? Do we see that at our disposal is the power of love, a love that has been given us from before a hair on our head came to be? Do we see that at each moment of our life, our actions toward others are meant to be uplifting and love-giving?

Perhaps more than any other scriptural verses, the Book of Ecclesiastes (Chapter 3) beautifully describes the rhythm of our lives and lays out for us our human existence:

There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every affair under the heavens.

A time to give birth, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to uproot the plant.

A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to tear down, and a time to build.

A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance.

A time to scatter stones, and a time to gather them; a time to embrace, and a time to be far from embraces.

A time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away.

A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to be silent, and a time to speak.

A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

Over and over, the sacred author urges us to reflect on the time that God has given us. In pondering this great mystery, we should remember that we have been on God’s mind since before time and that it was out of love that He created time- for us. We should also remember that some two-thousand years ago, our loving God sent us His only Son, to be born of the Virgin, so that He might live among us. In doing so, He revealed for us true love. Sadly, He was rejected and crucified. But through His Resurrection, in our time, Jesus Christ remains with us and for us! At our every turn, He walks with us and promises to never abandon us. Can we say the same about our end of the relationship—with Him?

Imagine this. If it were possible to freeze each moment of our life and reflect upon what we have done with our God-given time, how would we account for it in His presence? Could we characterize each moment of our lives as loving and life-giving? Or in facing the Lord, would we have to admit that we allowed too many precious moments of our lives to simply pass us by?

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Written by
Deacon Kurt Godfryd