When does the right time come?

Thoughts about when there is a gap in time, and when time falls into place

 

 

1. What problems do we have with our own times? We are struggling with time intensely. We would do anything to make it pass more quickly – and we would do anything to stop it going so fast. Time has speeded up by our century. There is not enough of it for anything really. From the masters, we have turned to slaves of running minutes. Some of us are living in the past, while others are running after their desired future. There is one thing in our lives missing: "now". We can live even a whole life without experiencing one single moment really. (If you would like to know more about this, please read my essay here.)

 

2. How can time be controlled? Time is not an enemy but a friend. Of course, we have to change to gain the friendship of time. We have to accept what happens to us. Patiently and attentively. It is how a moment can become eternity, it is how rush can become timelessness, and it is how little can be – enough. When this essay is published, Lent has just begun. What if we vow a time-Lent this year? What if we see what it is like to do less – but to do it more deeply? (If you would like to know more about this, please read my essay here.)

 

3. When does time fall into place? Time becomes complete when we can feel what God’s time like. We can be real masters of time if we do not experience it from our own viewpoint but if we ask God for His. What does this mean in our everyday lives? It is not the right time for something when we think we have to do it. It is time for something when the time comes when it has to be done. (If you would like to know more about this, please read my essay here.)

 


 

1. What problems do we have with our own times?

 

We are struggling with time intensely. We would do anything to make it pass more quickly – and we would do anything to stop it going so fast. If we are waiting for something good or important, we would set the clock forward, while if we are afraid of something or scared, we would slow it down. Time has speeded up by our century. There is not enough of it for anything really. From the masters, we have turned to slaves of running minutes. Time has fallen out of place. (Or have we come unstuck in time?) Some of us are living in the past, while others are running after their desired future. There is one thing in our lives missing: "now". We can live even a whole life without experiencing one single moment really.

 


 

2. How can time be controlled?

 

Time is not an enemy but a friend. Of course, we have to change to gain the friendship of time. We have to accept what happens to us. Patiently and attentively. It is how a moment can become eternity, it is how rush can become timelessness, and it is how little can be – enough. When this essay is published, Lent has just begun. What if we vow a time-Lent this year? What if we see what it is like to do less – but to do it more deeply? Let me encourage the Reader to vow the following: at least during these few weeks of Lent you should try what it is like if you spend at least 15 minutes (it can be a whole hour!) every day to think it over (to pray about it...) what has happened to you that day.

 


 

3. When does time fall into place?

 

Time becomes complete when we can feel what God’s time like. Appointed time (Kairos) is very different from the time we desire or we experience. "One day with the Lord is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day" (2Peter 3:8) God does not exist in time but in timelessness. He has a view of time, He does not live in time. We can be real masters of time if we do not experience it from our own viewpoint but if we ask God for His. What does this mean in our everyday lives? It is not the right time for something when we think we have to do it. It is time for something when the time comes when it has to be done. Jenő Dsida described a numerous situations in his poem titled "A Simple Poem About Mercy" when nothing ever worked out. He tried everything but no-one ever believed him. Then suddenly everything became perfect. Because the Lord was standing behind him... We are in the Lent. Do not devour time. Let’s wait for the time when the Lord stands behind us. And let’s believe in it: He will. (But please do not forget: for this we need to stand behind the Lord and not wait until He will stand behind our tiny and misdirected ideas...)

 

 

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