Dear Friends in Christ:
This is one of those odd years when we are given an extra day, February 29th, to help bring the year into line with the rest of time. It's Leap Year, when we have a chance to leap into another day! I'm intrigued by the notion of another day. How many times have I said or heard how frazzled people are, or how little time they have? The common chant, "If I only had more time, or another day …" Well, here it is. We have been given the gift of another day. Time is perhaps the most precious thing we have nowadays. But still, we seem to have so little or not enough of it. Why?
I remember going to the World's Fair in New York City in 1969. I was a junior in high school then and I marveled at all the gadgets and inventions the fair's promoters had on exhibit. There were telephones with pictures of the people we were talking to at the A.T. & T. exhibit. There were robots and electronic kitchens that were going to make food preparation such an easy job at the GE exhibit. Ford and Chevrolet had flying cars that would make sitting in traffic jams a thing of the past! I remember one exhibit where the people spoke about how in the 21st century we would have so many devices to assist us at work, that there wouldn't be a need to work more than four days a week. Everyone would have a three day weekend! We would have all this extra time on our hands!
Extra time, what's that? Here we are in 2012, and no one seems to have enough time. Instead of four day work weeks, many people are working six. Traffic jams still exist. Computers and cell phones keep us in touch in the matter of seconds, but we seem overwhelmed by the issues and people that press in on us. Life doesn't feel easier … it feels harder. An extra day? We need an extra month!
Is that what we need? More time? I often work with people considering the ordained ministry. They want to become priests. It's a noble calling, but I often end up talking to them about time management and balancing time in their lives. Like many other people … folks expect us to be available all of the time. I talk with other clergy about taking days off, taking their full vacation time, making sure they have a Sabbath in their lives. I remind them they have family and friends to take care of as well as people in their congregation … and the most common response I hear, "If only I had more time!"
Time … that's the issue. The reality is we have all the time we need. What might be needed is a look at how we use time. I see Lent as the perfect opportunity for us to reevaluate the gift of time that God has given us. If we were to get an extra day, or month, or whatever … I fear that we would only fill this up and want even more time. How are we using our time? What are our priorities? Time effects not only our work, family and friends … but also our relationship with God. If I had a dollar for every time I've heard "I don't have time to pray", I would be a rich man!
We do have time. We would do well to sit down and evaluate how we use the time we have given us. Some of the things that I have done over the years during Lent have given me clues to just how much I waste time. Try giving up television, the internet, newspapers during Lent. You'd be amazed at how much time you gain! There is time for God, for families, for you … it's there! We've just filled it up with too many things that aren't nearly as important as we think! It's wonderful how much time there is for prayer, worship, family, sleep, Bible reading and the things that will satisfy our souls when we change the things we do with time.
We have another day this year, but it's just a reminder of all the time we have already been given. Use Lent this year to look and deal with time differently. You just might find there is more time for you than you think! Make time for God and the other things that are truly important! God bless.
With warmest regards, I remain,faithfully yours in Christ...with plenty of time.
Fr Pat