We are obsessed with time!
Just over the last two days, I was reminded how we often let time make
decisions on our behalf. It really seems
that the frenzy of the season doesn’t matter.
People seem to be constantly in a hurry to get to wherever they are
going as if every minute is a matter of life or death. We are all familiar with the term “make every
minute count” and it’s clear some people take that advice with intensity.
Just today for example, I was approaching a stoplight when
someone came up quickly behind me in order to make it to the turning lane to my
left just as the light turned red.
Suddenly, the person zipped in behind me following just off my rear
bumper only to make a quick U-turn a block up the street to turn around,
approach the light we just left, and make the turn they originally wanted. Waiting the 3-4 minutes for another green
light was just too much to ask for the driver.
Yesterday while shopping, I was selecting an item
off the shelf and took a step back to review what I selected when someone
hurriedly pushed up behind to proclaim rather gruffly “dude pay attention”
before he pushed aside and up the aisle he went. Both situations reminded me that these individuals simply couldn’t wait for even a few moments.
While I can’t be sure that either person had a real time crunch they
were dealing with, I couldn’t help but reflect on how much stress these
individuals must have been experiencing.
Time is an illusion.
Time is an artificial concept created to add structure to our
existence. While living without a clock
would certainly introduce chaos in our modern lives, it reminds me that the
ancients knew of no such constraint. For
example, while we know the Mayans had an obsession with time, their perspective
was entirely different. Modern time is
viewed on a linear basis while the ancients saw time as a cycle. Our linear perspective of time results in the
kind of behavior that values time as a limited commodity that must be fiercely
guarded sometimes regardless of how it may affect others. This is how we get concepts like the “bucket
list” and why we force ourselves into believing that our failure to “manage”
time appropriately results in eternal bliss or damnation.
Time is the great stressor in our modern lives. Think for a moment the words we use around
the concept of time:
· I ran out of
time to finish the job.
· Time just got
away from me.
· The time
slipped right through my hands.
· So much work
to do and so little time.
· I’m just
killing time.
· The time got
away from me.
· I’m passing
the time by ….
· Time is
money.
· His/her time
was up.
· Time flies.
· I only have
so much time to get it done.
· ……. (and you
can probably add to the list)
When it comes to matters of the spirit, every moment is
timeless. Eternity is presented to us in
each breath we take. It’s like staring
at the small, almost invisible mustard seed and realizing within that tiny
object is the potential for something much larger. If you consider that many of the stars that
light our night sky are entire universes, then perhaps what we believe about
time may not be so obvious. Living
in the present is timeless. This is probably
why Jesus proclaimed we can experience heaven on earth – the kingdom is within
us, accessible wherever and whenever we are, right NOW!
During this season when we so often get caught up rushing to and fro preparing for celebrations, remember to breathe and enjoy the eternal present moment. Offer your awareness of the eternal that is available to all of us in each present moment as a gift to those around you, especially your loved ones. Your total presence given selflessly is the greatest gift we can offer anyone.
Duane Grove is founder of Connect2Action and an aspiring
quiet, reflective servant-leader.
Curious sage in perpetual development connecting us all on a journey of
discovery of our highest purpose. Follow
Duane on Twitter @connect2action and connect with him on LinkedIn, Facebook,
and Google+. Learn more about
Connect2Action by visiting www.connect2action.com.
You can follow his blogs at: mindfulperspectives.blogspot.com and
connect2action.blogspot.com
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