Reflection on 31st December 2009

At the stroke of mid-night we shall usher in the New Year – 2010. I hear the lament time and time again, “Where has all the time gone?”

Consider two Greek words that refer to time. Time measured by the clock is called Chronos – space of time made up of hours, minutes and seconds, a measurable quantity. The clock ticks on relentlessly, defying our attempts to get everything done as planned. In desperation we cry out, “Sorry I can’t get this done on time.” Time controls our lives, keeps us going and these days it tends to stress us to breaking point to complete our allotted task.

The older we get the faster appears the flight of time. We hear again the lament, ‘Where has all the time gone?’ It has been well written;

When as a child I slept and wept,
Time crept.
When as a youth I laughed and talked,
Time walked.
When I became a full grown man,
Time ran.
And older as I daily grew,
Time flew.
Soon I shall find in travelling on,
Time gone

Scientists are capable of making great discoveries, but no one has ever come up with a gadget to reverse time. We may recall events of past, good or bad, but we cannot return to recapture lost time or opportunity.

There is another word for time – Kairos. This is time from God’s perspective, God’s time, the right time for something to happen, the opportune moment. God Who is eternal, is always on time, even when we don’t think so. He chooses the right time to act to reveal Himself. It is important in our busyness to take time for God and let Him reveal His timing for us. We must live in such a way as to be open to Him when He chooses to break through to us unexpectedly. Let us be alert at all times to hear His voice speaking to us.

Psalm 90 paints us several pictures of life on earth emphasising the brevity of life. It is a call to us to make best use of the time we have on earth. Our physical body is of dust and to dust we will return at death. We are like grass – it springs up very quickly, then it is cut down and withered. However long we may live on earth, life comes to an end and we return to our Maker God. Let us face realities and make preparations for that day.

Let us end the old year and begin the new one with this prayer, ‘Oh! Teach us to live well! Teach us to live wisely and well. (Psalm 90: 12 The Message)