Time is a topic that is near and dear to the hearts of many. For most of us, we are slaves to the ticking clock.
The Book of Ecclesiastes in the Bible has an interesting take on time. Not chronological time, but time in general and it sums it up well.
“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heavens: A time to be born, and a time to die: a time to plant and a time to pluck up that which is planted: a time to kill, and a time to heal: a time to break down, and a time to build up: a time to weep, and a time to laugh: a time to mourn, and a time to dance: a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together: a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing….”
I think about time as a fairly recent concept, but the sundial had ancient civilizations fretting about time long before clocks and watches.
I never wore a watch until I was drafted into the Army.
When I moved into the corporate world, I lived my life in increments of 15 minutes. My days were filled with appointments, meetings and conference calls.
At the end of each day, when I look back, all I had to show for my time were tick marks on a to-do-list and scribbles on my calendar.
Now I am un-jobbed and most of my days are filled to capacity but at the end of the day, I can read over a story I have written, listen to music Jilda and I have recorded or admire yard work I have completed.
These days, when time changes in autumn it affects me more than the change in spring.
Maybe it’s because the days are shorter and I love the sunshine or maybe it’s because I know I am in the autumn of my life. I find myself moody, knowing that I have more sand in the bottom of my hourglass than in the top.
I’m closing this column today with one of my favorite quotes about time:
“Time is the coin of your life. It is the only coin you have, and only you can determine how it will be spent. Be careful lest you let other people spend it for you.” – Carl Sandburg
