To live is so startling it leaves little time for anything else. – Emily Dickinson

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished. – Lao Tzu

The past is never dead. It’s not even past. – William Faulkner

Have you ever found yourself pondering time? I find myself in that peculiar place now.  Just what exactly is it, and what does it mean? 

My father passed away ten days ago as I write this.  To my best calculation, I was in his presence for nearly 22,000 days.  He lived on the earth for nearly 33,000 days. Perhaps it is my lifelong distaste for math, but I find numbers to be so completely lacking in describing anything, too neutral to have meaning.  33,000 days tells you nothing about what he was like or his legacy. He was a good man, and my family and I miss him very much.      

It might be good in my time of grief and loss this Easter Season to think more about how the Scriptures describe time, with words such as “in the fullness of time” or “at the right time Christ died for the ungodly”.  When I hear words like this, I am instantly reminded that God is in charge of time, and I really don’t need to worry about it.  Possibly I have wasted time doing just that. 

As the next three quarters of 2021 unfolds, perhaps we might recalibrate how we use our time for work, rest, service and worship. Have the last 13 months changed us for the better? Have we taken time to ponder this?  I plan to retreat at St. Anthony’s soon to do just this.  I think we must, or we will miss a great teaching from the Lord himself.  And always to remember, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever”. (Hebrews 13:8)                                                                      

– Bruce LaCrosse

As is my custom, I share a painting I have done. It is very abstract, much like the nature of time.  Can you see some symbols in it?  God Bless you.