I am normally racing time; it's become my competing sidekick. However, with all the changes including disappointments that have come with a pandemic, time has become an abundant supply. I'm unable to race time because it is not sprinting by. In fact, there is no race because there is no finish line in sight. During this unusual time, it is simply learning how to be a companion with time. Walking the track of life one step at a time, not knowing what will take place around the next turn, not knowing when the finish line will appear. There is no reason to run, just take long walks in stride, hopeful, trusting, and taking in the view of things that normally go unnoticed and embracing the empty space time is now providing.
I like structure and routine, but I'll be honest, I occasionally like change which brings an element of uncertainty and surprise. However, the hard part with all of this is that the ending is unknown and out of my control. I'd like to go back to work, I'd like to meet with church family in a building, I'd like to watch my girls compete in sports, I'd like to go to the grocery store and not feel like it's a race to the toilet paper aisle. Instead of racing time, I'm racing my fellow neighbor for a roll of TP. How strange is that?
Ecclesiastes Chapter 3:
"There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, 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 refrain, time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace."
I read those verses so differently now that we are in a pandemic...especially "a time to refrain". The writer reminds us we are subject to a variety of times and changes over which we have little or no control. Further down in chapter 3, the author or "teacher" brings us encouragement by writing:
"He (God) has made everything beautiful in its time.
He has also set eternity in the hearts of men,
yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end."
"I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live...find satisfaction in all (times) toil - this is a gift of God."
We cannot fathom what God has already done from the beginning of this pandemic and what He will do until the end of it. The changing of times is not new to the history of man and definitely not new to our Creator. Life is a walk with time.
We walk through the changes of times, which elicits a number of responses from us as well as numerous emotions. How will we respond in this time?
Will we find ways to laugh and build up or is it a time to allow ourselves to fully grieve and to embrace those we care so deeply about?
Is it a time to speak up or simply to be silent or to search for ways to help our fellow neighbor?
Is today the day to mend what was broken in a relationship?
What is this time for you and for me?
As time becomes our companion, let us not forget we have another companion. Jesus walks with us. When time hands us heavy burdens to carry, we can hand them over to the One who promises to give our souls rest and make our journey light? (Matthew 11:28-30)
Can we walk hand in hand with time on our left and Jesus on our right, trusting that whatever time we are in, God will make everything beautiful in its time?
It may not look beautiful in the moment, but in time we may be blessed to see what was unfathomable. Remember our perspective is only finite, but God's is limitless and endless in space and time.
It's true, my walk looks different in this time, and I'm looking for the beauty in it. I now have space to do things I normally don't have time to do...like writing and journaling. I was beginning to feel as if I've forgotten how. I captured the highlights of the year 2019 by putting all my favorite photos in a book - a project that usually takes awhile for me! I have my college student home seven weeks early, and even though she isn't all that happy about it, I am treasuring our grown-up talks about life, politics, world history, and theology. During my normal race, I don't often get to sit in my comfy corner chair and reflect long enough for my late sleeper to snuggle up in my lap so I can scratch her back and arm and head and whatever other body part she puts in front of me. And how often do I pull out a puzzle and have my youngest enjoy it with me?
Hence the wisdom of Ecclesiastes' author: "...there is nothing better than to be happy and to do good while (we) live and find satisfaction in all (times) - this is a gift of God."
Wherever you are at in all this crazy unknown and uncertain times, I pray that we can embrace the time we are in by seizing the small blessings often overlooked and ignored, making the most of new opportunities to deliver love to others, find ways to spur on laughter, comfort those who are mourning, gather up new memories to hold on to, and trusting that our all-knowing and constant God makes everything beautiful in its time.
May we walk hand in hand with time and Jesus.
