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Ecclesiastes 3:
1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
It it ever occurred to you how often we measure almost everything by time? Have you ever stopped to reflect just how often we truly do
this? Here are a few things to think about...
Dividing time in the course of just 1 day:
- The alarm goes off - time to get up
- breakfast time
- shower time
- time to read/watch the news and catch up on emails
- time to read your daily prayers and readings
- time to leave/prepare for work/school or get the house work started
- time for school, appointments or kid’s activities
- Even on the washer, dryer, video machine, computer, coffee pot & stove clock, we're assured that the time will be monitored for us. (Anyone ever lost when the power goes out and you have to reset all these items?)
- lunch time
- snack time
- play time
- exercise time
- break time
- quitting time
- dinner time
- story time
- bath time
- bedtime
Measuring time in casual conversation:
- Hang on a minute…
- Just a second…
- Just a minute...
- Give me a minute here…
- Leave me alone for a minute…
- One sec…
- By day’s end
- Later on
- Not now
- In a while…
- First thing in the morning
- Next week
- Next month
- Next year
Milestones measuring time in one’s life:
- birthdays
- tots to teens
- first steps
- first teeth
- first job
- first car
- graduations
- weddings
- anniversaries
- retirement age
Then there's measuring time by the passing of seasons and organizing/enjoying your life around that:
- Planting bulbs for spring time
- Checking the bike tires so they’re ready to use
- Cleaning up the flower beds
- Enjoying new life, new buds on trees and shrubs
- Taking a cup of hot tea outside and smelling the scent of spring
- Power washing the decks and walkways for summer time
- Throwing grass seed where its needed
- Putting winter clothing away and bringing out the warmer weather clothes
- Taking the furniture out to the patio for the summer time
- Listening to the waves on the shore
- Sitting in the sun and letting it kiss your face
- Star gazing on the trampoline late at night
- Making sure the BBQ has the propane tank all ready for cooking
- Back to school, buy school supplies
- Packing away summer clothes
- Pruning trees and shrubs because its better in the fall
- Having the chimney and the furnace system cleaned
- Checking how the winter coats and warm boots fit
- Taking out wool sweaters
- Raking the leaves falling from the trees
- Taking a trip to the pumpkin farm
- Preparing for Thanksgiving
- Taking the furniture in for the winter time
- Winterizing the family vehicle
- Watching the first snowfall
- Preparing for Christmas
- Shoveling the drive
- Ringing in the new year
- Planning summer vacations
Our plethora of time trackers:
- Calendars
- Day timers
- Computer reminders
- Dental reminder cards in the mail
- Date stamps
- Expiry dates
- School schedules
In essence, it is “TIME” that shapes our lives. Yet, the old saying folks still use to date “Lazy days of summer” makes me smile.
Moving to the east, we are on “summer time”, without deadlines as usual, soaking in the sun and water nearby, enjoying the animals and the yard as it comes together, and creating an oasis and haven of rest without schooling to occupy our entire weekdays.
Taking the time to “smell the roses” is what we are essentially yearning for in life, yet we still marvel over “where the time went” because we’re so busy trying to stay ahead of time, or at the very least – on time.
Are you taking the time to “smell the roses” this summer? If not, why not?
YOUR TIME is in your hands
To everything, there is a season….
