Time

Here we are, the beginning of another year, 2022. Some of us may have made our annual “New Year’s Resolution” that we end up keeping for a few weeks. We may promise ourselves that we are going to lose weight, spend more time visiting others or just accomplish things we have been planning for years. Whatever we plan we would like to begin with a “blank slate.” Unfortunately, we are still suffering from the Coronavirus and its variants. We and our loved ones may have suffered from this terrible disease and its consequences. Did we spend time in quarantine, if so, what did we do? Were we so sick that we were not able to accomplish anything, or communicate with those whom we love? Did we miss work or school?

Someone once told me: Imagine $86,400.00 is credited to your bank account every morning. Whatever amount you did not use is deleted from your account at the end of the day. The balance cannot be carried over to the next day. The next day the same thing happens, you receive $86,400.00 in your account, and at the end of the day it is gone.

Guess what, we all have that kind of an account. The name of the account is time, it credits us with 86,400 seconds every day. Whatever we have failed to invest of that 86,400 seconds is deleted at the end of every day. If we fail to use the day’s deposits, the loss is ours. There is no going back. There is no drawing against tomorrow. We must live in the present on today’s deposits. Invest it to get from it the most in health, happiness, and success. Also make sure some of this treasure is spent on praising and glorifying God, the One who gave us the gift in the first place.

The clock continues to run, we need to make the most of today. Yesterday is history, tomorrow is mystery, today is a gift. That is why it is called the present! If we stay in the present and use the present time in terms of a gift from God that is given equally to all of us, then we can appreciate the time the Lord has given us on earth. It is in this time that we live, we love, and we strive to live a life following the Gospel. How do we do that? Are we aware of those around us that may simply need to be acknowledged as fellow human beings—the man who stands on the corner by the stop sign begging, the older woman who must wait on tables at our favorite breakfast place so she can pay her rent. What about the unfriendly woman in the grocery line who is complaining about wearing a mask because of the Coronavirus? Do we ignore them, or do we help them in some way? It may only take a smile, a few kind words, an extra tip for their service, or just some eye contact to let them know that they are important, and fellow human beings.

The question we need to ask ourselves is how did we spend and continue to spend the time God gives and has given us on this earth?

In my years as a priest, I have listened to many “what if” or “I should have” scenarios of people’s lives. Make the best use of the gift of time so there will be no regrets when your account at the end of the day is deleted.

Mitred Archpriest John S. Kachuba | GCU Spiritual Advisor