THE TICKING OF THE CLOCK
Does it seem to you that time flies by? Next week, I will have been off of work for two months. When I do go back, will I be able to remember things associated with my job? Will I even be able to clock into my computer? These last two months seem like they have flown by. I accomplished a lot of things around the house that I had been putting off. I was able to do one of my passions, to read. When I am working, I do not have time to read or accomplish large tasks around my home. I plan to retire in the next couple of years. I am sure time will go slowly, at least in my mind, when I get closer to that milestone.
When all is quiet in my home, I can hear the ticking of all the clocks around me. Each tick is one more second, one more minute that has gone by. One of the tasks I have gotten done is to clean in my garage. (My neighbors probably think I am a hoarder by the way it has looking!) I found a box that had my grandmother’s cuckoo clock in it. She was so proud of that clock and took really good care of it. I remember that when I would call her, I would hear that clock in the background. Somehow it made me feel like home. I love the clock but do not have anyplace in my house that it fits in with my décor. My brother, when hanging it in my grandmother’s new apartment, has a different feeling about that clock. As he was hanging it up, it fell on his nose several times. He definitely did not want to keep it. Even though the clock is in a box in my garage, I just cannot seem to let it go.
Isn’t that the same way with time from the past? We just cannot let it go. We dwell on events of the past that cause us to live in the past instead of the present. As I have said before, I have some of my parents black and white photos and am still in the process of organizing them and putting them in an album. When I am able to work on them, I get drawn into the past. I am so centered on a memory; I sometimes feel like I am in a tunnel going back in time. There are some flashbacks of memories from the pictures, that I wish I could change. But of course, I cannot. There are also pictures that I wonder, what was I thinking with that outfit or hairstyle. Where did all that time go?
During this pandemic, I have had more time to think. The events of the past, have helped shape me to be who I am today. The people I have come in contact with in the past, have also helped to shape me today. Some of these events or people, have affected me negatively. Some of them have been positive. I am a big believer in looking at the glass half full instead of empty. I feel I have been blessed to have mostly positive influences from my past. But there are so many who cannot say that. Many who have had so much sadness and lose when they look at their past. They have had parents who have not been a good influence. One lady I knew, had a very abusive father, physically and mentally. She struggled with being able to understand who our Father God should be in our hearts because she had never been shown that human type of love from a father.
Many years ago, when my husband was preaching in a little congregation, we went to a lady in her 80’s, home for lunch. She held onto something from her past and could not let it go. She confided to him that when she was a teenager, she had an abortion. Besides being very dangerous physically during that time; she had held that event from her past and had not ever let it go. She had been a Christian for many, many years, she knew God had forgiven her years ago. But she had not ever forgiven herself. It was something that made the ticking of the clock stop and kept her from feeling God’s mercy and grace. I feel my husband was able to calm her fears and make her realize that she could not stay in the past, because there is so much living to be done now-today-this moment in time, while the clock is still ticking for us.
This time in history, has helped me to remember to live in the today. There are so many opportunities I have missed today. Opportunities to: tell others about Jesus-to be with family (even if it is on zoom or over the phone or texting)-help someone in need. There are so many people who are full of fear because they have lost their job and cannot feed their families. They have to go to the many huge food lines that we have seen on the tv. Children are going hungry in our country. In my lifetime, I never thought I would see that. Could we have helped them, if we had known? Don’t make that an excuse. Make it a reality, by reaching out to others and finding the needs that are out there. There are so many, especially right now! Get out your church directory and start calling people to see how they are doing. I know that lifts me up when someone calls to check on me. Maybe it is as simple as a prayer for them, that they need!
There is a new song by JeremyCamp called “Keep Me in the Moment.” I amgoing to share with you some of the words. They sure made me think!
I’ve been thinking about time and where does it go.
How can I stop my life from passing me by. I don’t know.
I’ve been thinking about family, and how it is going so fast.
Will I wake up one morning, just wishing that I could go back.
I’ve been thinking about lately, maybe I can make a change and let You change me.
So, with all my heart this is my prayer.
Singing Oh Lord, keep me in the moment.
Help me live with my eyes wide open.
Cause I don’t wanna miss what You have for me.
Singing Oh Lord show me what matters.
Throw away what I’m chasing after.
Cause I don’t wanna miss what you have for me.
When I wake up in the morning, Lord, search my heart.
Don’t let me stray, I just wanna stay where You are.
All I got is one shot, one try, one go around in this beautiful life.
Nothing is wasted when everything’s placed in Your hands.
Keep me in the moment.
I’ve been thinking about heaven and the promise You hold.
So, it’s all eyes on You until the day You call me home.
Keep me in the moment. Help me live with my eyes wide open.
Cause I don’t wanna miss what you have for me.
Show me what matters.
Throw away what I’m chasing after.
Cause I don’t want to miss what you have for me.
Such beautiful words! Keep me in the moment. Help me to remember your promises that You will never forsake me. That, You are always with me in the hard decisions. You are always with me during the loss of someone we love. You are with me when I do not know what the future holds, because I have lost my income. Even in the difficult trials, you are with me when I try to live my life for you. Even during the darkness, You are right there with me. Help me to remember to live in the now-today, even if it is uncertain. We cannot ever get the ticking of the clock, back. Maybe God has led you to this time in your life and He has something for you to do. He has a purpose for your life and you have let the ticking of the clock pass you by and did not fulfill that purpose.
What are you doing right this minute? What do you need to be doing this minute? These minutes pass us by so quickly. Just like all of the black and white pictures have shown me, we can never get the ticking of the clock to go backward-only forward! I understand if you feel sad-fearful-hopeless. But we are never going to get today back, because when the sun rises or sets; it becomes our past. We might look back and wonder why we did not do something in service to God. There are things we can do to serve the Lord right now and bring cheer to others. There is a couple whose 70th wedding anniversary was yesterday, who are members of the church congregation I attend. Last night, there were several of us, who drove by with balloons and posters, letting them know we loved them and celebrated with them their lives of so many years of marriage. I could have stayed home. I was feeling kinda down yesterday, but I went anyway with some friends. We wore our masks, so hopefully the couple knew who we were! But that is not what is important. What was important is that we showed our love for them thru our actions. I was so glad that I did not let the ticking of the clock just go by while I stayed at home but took the opportunity that was right in front of me, to do something for someone else! I felt so much better after I got home.
Everyday God puts in front of us opportunities to serve Him. Make changes in your life so you can act on them. Right now, is your time in history. Right now, the ticking of the clock has just passed us by and is gone forever. We need to remember, to keep in the moment-the here and now, which is so fleeting. The time is now!
I want to end with a few scriptures for you to think about which relate to this blog.
James 4:14 “Whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? Is it even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.”
Psalm 118:24 “This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”
Ecclesiastes 3:1 “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.” Verse 17, “…God shall judge the righteous and the wicked, for there is a time there for every purpose.”
Matthew 6:34 “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.”
Ephesians 5:15 “See then, you walk circumspectly not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”
The Bible tells us that our lives are as vapors. God has made this day for us. There is a time for everything. We are not to worry about tomorrow, but rather redeem our time; taking advantage of service we can do today. Jesus is the same in the past, now and in the future. He will keep His promises. He will take care of us.
Remember to make wise use of this moment and all God has in store for us and for us to do. Do not waste today. Use your time wisely. Just like the ticking of the clock, time waits for no one. Even today in this pandemic, there is much to do for the Lord! What are you waiting for? The clock is ticking!
Till next time! Keela