We so often talk of time like it’s an enemy – there’s never enough of it, we’re ‘up against the clock’, we’re running out of time, there aren’t enough hours in the day, we’re short on time, time is the enemy, time is limited – the list is potentially endless, if I had time. (Did you see what I did there?)
Scientists tell us that time is a property of physics, that it only exists because of the state of the universe, and that our perception of time is the result of being biological entities navigating the universe. Or something like that. But time feels very real to us, and can often feel like an oppressive, short-supply, commodity.
Time, though, is perhaps the greatest leveller, we all have twenty-four hours in each day, no one gets more whether rich or poor, twenty four hours each day, or 1440 minutes, or 86400 seconds. All of that time is put in our ‘time bank’ at the start of each day and how we spend it depends on us. We can’t hoard it, we can’t buy more of it, we can’t lose it. If we viewed time as less of a commodity and more of a gift perhaps we would have a very different approach to time and how we use time.
Spiritual traditions throughout the world encourage us to consider time as something given to us, something precious, to be stewarded and enjoyed. Festivals and feasts in all the traditions of the world are to mark time, to celebrate the gift of the cycles of the year, of nature, of light and dark, beginnings, endings, and all time in between. In the Christian tradition of which I am a part, there are parts of the year given to preparation and reflection leading up to the great feasts of the year, Christmas and Easter, called Advent and Lent respectively, which are deliberately set aside to mark and use time well before the celebration of these great events.
The Jewish and Christian holy books remind their readers again and again that God gifts us with time, that it is for us, not against us. The stories of the Scriptures advise us to use time wisely and well, to rest as well as work, to sleep well, to share our time with others, including friends and family. There is little or no talk in the Bible of being under time pressure or of being too busy and on the one occasion Jesus talks about peoples attitude to time, in the Gospel of Matthew Chapter six verse 27, he asks “Which of you by worrying can add a single hour to their span of life?” (It’s all part of a speech about how worrying does nothing good, Matthew 6 verses 25-34 if you want to read the whole thing.)
As I wrote in Saturday’s Faith Forum, I am having a sabbatical, three months of being out of the usual routine and of making time for things which are important. That’s the reason I am musing on these things (that and the fact that here in England we had our time change last Sunday, just as BC will be having yours this coming weekend). I have been busy, but it’s been more a case of trying to use time well than feeling I have so much to do. I’ve also made time to do things I don’t normally do as much as I would like to – reading, writing, walking, being with those I love and care about, learning new things, and just spending time without distraction, sometimes doing absolutely nothing. I realize this is a luxury that many of us can’t afford and I am grateful for the privilege of being able to do so for this relatively long period. What it has encouraged me to do, though, is to do more of it on my return – to be more mindful of my time, and how much I have, and how I use it well. And to recognize that time is not against me, but allows me to do so much, or so little, as I take note of the rhythms of my body and soul. To make time for rest, and refreshment, to take time away from the distractions of the day, to spend time with my beloved and with friends.
A well-known Bible passage from the Hebrew Scriptures reminds us that “for everything there is a time, a season for all things under heaven” (Ecclesiastes Three verse One). You might recognize this as the basis for the song ‘Turn, Turn, Turn’ by The Byrds. This reminder is given as part of a bigger picture, one which recognizes that no matter how we use our own time, the world continues on, and things that need to happen continue to happen. Whether or not we worry about time, fill our time, use our time, loose time, it continues to happen, and the world continues to turn, and life continues with or without our participation.
We talk about wasting time, but many of the things frowned upon in my youth as a waste of time, are actually things which are refreshing and life giving – like the stories I read, or watch on TV or my PC, or listen to via audiobook. Or resting. Or relaxing. Perhaps the biggest waste of time is to not take note of how precious each day is and or how we worry about the ways we spend our time, and fill our time with things which, in the end, only create a feeling of being constantly rushed and busy. Let’s enjoy time, enjoy the moments which make up a day, and make the most of the gift of time by doing those things which are good, and life-giving, life-affirming, and make us, and the world, a better place.
The Ven. Alastair Singh-McCollum is Rector of St. John the Divine Anglican Church in Victoria and Archdeacon, Diocese of Islands and Inlets. He has a passion for the Gospel, motorbikes and bike culture, worship, philosophy, theology, guitars, single malt whisky, real ale, cinema and all things French. You can find Alastair at the church website: and on his blog:
You can read more articles on our interfaith blog, Spiritually Speaking at /blogs/spiritually-speaking
