For better or worse, time keeps on slipping.
Do you pay attention to the date or day of the week? Or the time of day?
Often in my life, time moves and I follow. When I stop and realize the minutes or days that have passed I recount in my mind "how" the time was spent. For better or worse, once those minutes or days are gone, I cannot get them back.
I have found myself counting weeks as of late. First, it was 6 weeks, then an extra 2 weeks, then an extra 4 weeks, then an extra 4-6 weeks but after only 3 weeks it was a new 4-6 weeks which could technically be 8-12 weeks. So, now I have 3-5 more weeks, which could technically be 7-11 weeks.
Counting weeks, I was reminded how a pastor once pointed out how quickly each year passes by percentages. This year is 42% over. In my little world, 72% of my year thus far has been spent in ways I wasn't expecting.
Then, I remembered what Dave Patty, President of Josiah Venture (the missions organizations my sister works with), recently wrote in their May update:
"In Greek there are two words for time. 'Chronos' stands for time that is organized in minutes and hours, and 'Kairos' stands for time that is organized around significant events or experiences. Sometimes this second word is translated 'opportunity.' In Ephesians 5:16 Paul tells us to redeem, or buy back the 'kairos,' because the days are evil... usually spending some 'chronos' so we don't miss the 'kairos' ... the value of redeeming eternal things makes is absolutely worth it."
Absolutely worth it? Indeed. While the chronos was not what I was expecting these last 4 months, the kairos have been amazing. Over these last 4 months I have seen things happen in bigger ways than I did the previous 4 months when I could walk with ease on 2 feet. Comparatively, they may seem minimal. A great number are centered around my relationship with my husband and our three children, but a good number of moments are centered around others whom I may have missed if I wasn't in a position to sit still. All of them took great faith from little ole me, and for that, I am greatly encouraged.
We have 58% of "chronos" left in this year. How will you redeem the "kairos?"
I really enjoyed this blog. Thank you for posting.
I second Jonathan! I have been thinking more and more about my "kairos" now that I have a baby arriving in such few "chronos". A lot of my kairos have been devoted to have true quality time with Jonathan and especially with Julia during the day.
Thanks Windham Familia!
also along these lines - sometimes the value of a time comes in the length of time something happens...every summer we did this...every night we did this...or for this long i did this... - other times great value can come from a quick unexpected happening. makes life interesting. :)
Indeed, I totally agree on the unplanned! That was the beginning antedotal (sp) part of DP's newsletter, pointing out how he was "supposed" to be writing but instead ended up on an unplanned tangent with his son talking about everything from God to girls that lasted 4 hours and then unexpectedly had his daughter then ask some great questions regarding a bible study she was planning and he got into a tangent with her. He missed his deadline, in chronos, but redeemed much kairos in regards to his kids and eternity. Good
(whoops, iPhone fail!) Good reminders for sure! :)!