Making time timeless

It’s a question of love. It’s a question of how we understand time, how we manage it, what we think its real objective is.

We all know that time is some kind of measure that gives us an idea of the past, the present and the future. It gives us an idea of before and after, so basic in our system that we hardly give it any thought.

Yes, it’s a very demanding and unforgiving element in our life. It simply ticks away, relentless in its march and flow regardless of what happens in the world. And what has passed, has passed definitively, never to return again.

We cannot stop it nor make it run faster, unless we take it in a figurative way, or unless a lot of value added is given to it. That’s when we can say we have saved time or have multiplied it.

That’s why many people get nervous when they consider the time element seriously. They invariably describe it as a most precious resource that should be used most prudently and most productively.

But put in the context of the over-all purpose of human life that includes our spiritual and supernatural calling, time acquires even more tremendous significance that we should know and appreciate.

This is when we know that time is first of all a gift from God, indispensable because of our human condition. It just did not erupt into existence on its own.  We have to be clear about this, because many of us just presume time as given, without making any effort to know where it came from and where it is supposed to go.

As a divine gift, it springs from the eternity of God and meant to inhere in it always. It’s not meant to be detached from God’s eternity, unless in our foolishness we choose to distort reality and remove time from eternity.

We have to be more aware, in fact, most keenly aware, of this crucial aspect of our time here on earth. Without getting unduly fuzzy about it, we should not be casual in our attitude toward it.

In itself, the passage of time has the savor of eternity, to which we are constantly invited to discover and taste. This is the challenge we have, and it requires nothing less than broadening our mind, and grounding ourselves more firmly on our faith, hope and charity.

In short, we are supposed to constantly exercise our faith, hope and charity to fathom the real and ultimate meaning of time, and to connect it to the eternity of God.

In this regard, we have to take special care on how we manage our time, on what we use it for, etc., for on these questions depends our success or failure to make time timeless, that is, to make it acquire the character of eternity.

We have to develop the virtue of order therefore, making appropriate plans and schedules on a daily and weekly basis, etc., not so much for the purpose of effectiveness and productivity as for showing our love for God and for working always in tandem with him.

That should be the abiding criterion to use when we start allocating time for the different things we need to attend to. We have to constantly ask ourselves, “Is this what God really wants me to do at this moment, or for this afternoon, tonight, tomorrow, next week, etc.?”

Other guiding questions can be asked: “How much time should I allot to this activity? What precautionary measures should I use to keep me always in contact with God, avoiding being swallowed up by the dynamics of an activity?”

Related to the virtue of order are other virtues that can be helpful—the capacity to focus on the objectives with intensity and perseverance, to anticipate things, to be prudent and flexible as circumstances can change along the way, to remain calm and cheerful.

We also need to learn how to be patient and optimistic, as well as resourceful and creative. Most of all, we have to learn how to grow and glow in charity even in the drudgery of a routinary work, and how to handle tiredness and the different forms of pressures, physical, emotional, mental.

Making time timeless can indeed be truly exciting, capable of turning the prose of every day into heroic verses of love and dedication. Lastly, we have to find time to rest, and that can only be with Christ who said:

“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will refresh you.” (Mt 11,28)

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