The Riddle of Time
I have a riddle for you. What is more precious than gold but cannot be bought, earned, or saved?
Before answering, let me share with you the story of a nearly perfect day. This past Sunday was absolutely beautiful in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, moving from the high fifties as the sun came up to near eighty degrees and sunny by mid-afternoon. After waking up I took our two dogs for a long walk. Then I went to church and enjoyed a great sermon and worship service. Then we threw a kayak on our car and took the family to Lake Harriet (featured in the picture) and while my two kids kayaked, my wife Karin and I walked around the lake. We got back in time to watch the second-half of the Vikings game…and they won! After doing a few chores around the house, I took my daughter, a friend of hers, and our combined lot of three dogs to play fetch in and out of the currents of the St. Croix River. Then home for a supper of homemade pizza, a little reading, and bed.
As the day unfolded, I realized that having time makes all the difference between an impoverished and rich life. Actually, I realized that making time makes all the difference.
Truth be told, over the last year I can remember only a handful of days like this one. You see, I’m very fortunate in that I like to work, I’m goal-oriented, and I love what I do. All of which means that while I tend to get a lot done, it’s really easy for me to get so wrapped up in my work that I don’t make the time for the kind of perfect day we had on Sunday but that, quite frankly, is regularly available.
What I realized on Sunday is that time is the one thing that is so incredibly precious and yet can’t be bought, earned, or saved. It can only be received as a gift and spent wisely. We all get the same number of hours in a week. The question is simply how we spend them.
Not only that, but certain kinds of time – like the time spent with kids who are growing up way too fast – are limited. We have been in Minnesota now for twelve years, and that time feels like it has gone by in the blink of an eye. In less than half that time both our kids will be off to college and out of the house. So how many days like the one we had on Sunday are left to me? Actually, quite a few…if I spend my time wisely.
I’ve put this post in the category of “parenting” because that’s what I’m thinking about just now in relation to the time I have with my kids. But of course it could apply just as easily to spouses, partners, friends, parents, siblings, and all kind of other people who are special to us.
So what are your plans for the weekend? Odds are that with just a little thought and discipline, you could have a perfect day or two. All it takes is a willingness to receive the days ahead as gifts of God and spend them on the things that really matter.
Blessings on your efforts to do just that.
I fully enjoy and seek to spend time to the fullest. I find it incredibly challenging to do so. My wife and I are both parish pastors, and while there is flexibility in our schedules, it seems that too often the church chews through our time without thought about leaving any for us to cultivate life of our own. We have fleeting moments of great, relaxing time. And then the day to day life grabs a hold of us again.
We’re the same way. One thing we’ve found that helps is actually scheduling things we want to do – a movie, a concert, a walk, whatever. Sounds crazy, but it’s a way to protect certain chunks of time and value them the same way we value all the other things – meetings, etc. – that creep onto our calendars. Oh, and buying tickets for things in advance is a great “pre-commitment” that forces you to go enjoy yourselves. 🙂
It’s early but the scarecrow and old man are set up by our front door and ready for “trick and treaters.” Only potatoes and carrots left in the garden. Hopefully Fall will last for sometime before snow princess start to dance.
Have good afternoon and evening as prepare the Lord’s Dauy.
David,
I know this is now a couple days old, but I finally got around to reading it today, and wanted to share with you how much I appreciated it. Also to let you know that I forwarded the email version to my council members. It matched a little bit with the sermon from this weekend (not based on the lectionary) (rather Matt 6:25-34, “don’t worry”). I asked the congregation to think about this week the “stuff” that clutters up their lives and might prevent them from following Jesus the way they would like to… (or words to that effect.)
(Oh, and I’m so glad that you made that day for you and your family!!!!!! Keep it up!)
Blessings