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Take Time

 

Our worship bulletin from January 22, 2023--last Sunday--shared a great piece of clip art.

It was in the shape of person's head filled with words: dream, imagine, hope, think, day-dream, and so on. The graphic was placed between two announcements: one about the work of the parish priest, and the other about our upcoming study on the Book of Proverbs.

Both are timely. (I jokingly questioned which announcement the graphic accented--all in good humor, and in due respect of our parish administrator.)

I believe we all (ordained and lay) require time to simply be still, and explore life internally. Secondly, we need to take time to study scripture--beyond the regular and ordinary.  

A few months ago, I came across an article about how Christian leaders are called to "waste a little time". Over the years, I have encountered a variety of documents giving commendation to this art of (what some may call) "wasting time". However, we live in a society more concerned with optimizing time rather than taking time to slow down--to be more attentive to who we are--more aware of our surroundings.

I often refer to the 24 hour day as being divided into three 8-hour periods: 8 hours for sleep/rest; 8 hours for work; and 8 hours for leisure.   

In the past, there has been emphasis in the church on taking ‘sabbath’ time. As clergy, we need to take time to refocus on our spiritual/work life--take time for sabbath. This idea of sabbath is framed around the Jewish day of Sabbath--taking time to spend doing what some in the 21st century would call wasting time. (Time spent dreaming, assessing the environment, thinking, etc.)   

Jesus provides sound advice/guidance for us in the idea of taking time.

We can recall how often he went away to pray; his 40 days spent in the wilderness; how attentive he was to the needs of others--the leper; the woman at the well; the guests at the wedding feast; and sharing meals with the tax collectors, and society's outsiders.

We often hear, “I have no time.”

The business world is constant in attempting to manage time, particularly that of employees. Big business is convinced; if they can manage the time of their employees, they can achieve greater financial results.

The church is no exception to this process.

How often do truly take time to listen to the Holy Spirit; take time to consider (what I like to call) ‘GOD” time.  

My theory is: Christian leaders, by simple command of our Lord, are called to spend some time (in what the secular world calls) "wasting time". 

A question often asked of me is, "Don’t you find it to be ‘lost’ time, commuting to Duncan?" My answer is, "not really."

The drive gives me lots of thinking time. I dare not say dreaming, or day-dreaming, except that, by times, it may border on that idea!  

In reading the ancient texts, and listening to the elders of our first peoples around the world, we hear the value of "taking time".

When we take time to simply slow down and listen, a whole new world opens up for us, in more positive ways than when we rush through the day, simply completing ‘assumed’ tasks.  

I encourage you to take some Sabbath time this week. Take time to simply stop the pace of your day-to-day life, and enjoy the gifts of God in your life.

Blessings,
Archdeacon Brian+