Time, and time again...

On a scale of one to ten how satisfied are you with how you relate to time?  Each of us relates to time in a way that is more complex than whether we are usually punctual or characteristically late for every activity. Our relationship with time is multidimensional and encompasses not only punctuality but how we view time in relation to our lives, and the use we make of time. It results in the kind of emotions we experience when we glance at a clock, look at our watch or view a calendar.

Ideally, we should feel comfortable and satisfied whenever we glance at the clock or our watch but often we are filled with anxiety, fear or even anger. These emotions may lead us to think of time as our enemy or, at the very least, a wayward child. As an enemy, time may appear to be deliberately seeking to destabilize your control of the various facets of  your life, disturb your peace and create general mayhem. 

Consistent with the kind of relationship a parent develops with a wayward child, you may feel as though you are constantly trying to get time to change course and live the principles that you have painstakingly tried to inculcate in him. But he persists in being defiant. Regularly, he is either running too fast or moving too slowly, mostly running at breakneck speed. This lack of control which is reflected in the use of certain words and expressions like "sorry to be late", "barely made it", "out of time", "too soon", “Is it that time already?” , "just missed it", "not enough time", “too late”, “running out of time” and “I need more time” is totally unacceptable.These utterances have no place in a comfortable, satisfying, harmonious relationship with time. In an ideal time relationship these expressions are confined to a dark room and put permanently on time out. 

The first step in making improvements in any situation is identifying the problem. After much reflection, I have concluded that the problem with most of us who complain about the passage of time, is our failure to relate to time the way God intended. 
I went to my source of wisdom and specifically to Genesis which records the beginning of earthly time to find guidelines for creating harmony with time. I found six principles that I expect to transform how I relate to time.

First of all, we were created to function within the context of time. Time, as represented by day and night and ruled by the sun and moon respectively, was created before man and God declared that it was good. The order of creation is not random. If we study what was created on each day it becomes evident that God had a plan that culminated with the creation of a day of rest. Certainly, day and night and everything else that exists were created for man's welfare so, based on the order of creation, we can conclude that we were created to function within a context of day and night. In fact, there is much biological evidence, pertaining to the release of certain hormones in the body to support the idea that we were created to function within a context of day and night and the resultant light and darkness but my focus here is not biological so I will not elaborate on that.

Secondly, each day is a gift given to us by God and whatever we do with each day must be such that we can declare like God did after every day of creation, "it was good". If we truly believed that each day is a gift, we would cherish every moment and seek to use our time wisely. It requires organising our days to get maximum benefit but erase anxiety.

Thirdly, we have to plan carefully and prioritize our activities. Like God did during creation week, we must do things in an orderly and sequential manner. I am confident that the great God of heaven and earth could have completed all of creation in one day or less. But did he? No, He deliberately had a single focus for each day. If we follow God's example, we would not try to cram 101 things into 12 to 16 hrs Do only what is essential for each day. Calmly and efficiently perform what you set out to do each day. Don’t rush, I have found that the old adage, “More haste, less speed” is absolutely correct, for when we rush, we make mistakes, we skip essential steps, we knock things over and the corrective actions we have to take utilise more time and set us further back from our goals. Have calm, unrushed, focus driven days.

Fourthly, Make sure what is done in each day takes you closer to your overall goal for your week, your month, your life and that the sustaining elements exist for each new activity. The crowning act of God’s creation was the making of man and each day brought Him closer to the ideal circumstances for that ultimate goal to be accomplished and sustained. All that was essential for man’s welfare was in place before he was created. What a lesson for us to learn when we aspire to bring certain projects to fruition! We must always ask ourselves whether the circumstances that would make our project sustainable are in place. If we take the time to make this judgement, it would save us a lot of wasted days and frustrating months later on.

Next, evaluate what you have accomplished. Moses records that at the end of each day of creation God evaluated what He had accomplished. Repeatedly, we read, "and God saw that it was good". Make it a practice to evaluate your day, your week, and what you have accomplished in your life to date. Evaluating puts things in perspective and motivates us to progress or adopt corrective measures so that we optimize our use of time.

Finally, we must find time to rest. After six days of creation, God took the seventh day to rest. A whole day to rest tells me that rest is important. In fact, I am confident that the Creator of the universe had some free time each day after speaking the day’s creation into existence. We, too, should have some free time each day. One of my good friends is always lamenting what he sees as my “rest-less life”. “You need some margin,” he says, “you need to rest more.” He is right and I also know that I am not alone in packing too much into my days and getting anxious over the passage of time.  Of course, if we are true to God's example, we will earn the rest by working first. But, make no mistake, God created a day of rest at the end of creation because he wanted rest to be an essential aspect of man’s life.

I know that identifying these six principles will not magically transform how I relate to time nor am I suggesting that the principles would be easy to practice but identification is an essential step.To relate to time satisfactorily takes consistent hard work. Because I know that, I am resolved to work hard to erase any negative emotion that I experience on looking at my watch or clock. My attitude to time must change. Time is not my enemy; time is not a wayward child. Time is a special gift from the Creator and it is my responsibility to relate to it like it is a gift. Following the principles that are evident from creation week, I will endeavour to live in harmony with time. What about you?