Wasting Time…..

10 years ago 4

 

I went to the dentist office for an appointment at 10:00 a.m. and didn’t get called back until 10:45, then it was 11:15 before I was being seen.  O.K. they were busy, and they are very good to me, but it is time, and when you are sitting in a room alone, time seems to matter, even more.

 

A philosophy professor asked, “If I had the power to give you more of any one thing, what would you ask for?”

 

Money?

Power?

Fame or recognition?

Sex appeal?

Physical Beauty?

 

Then a man in his fifties, who had gone back to college, answered, and smiled knowingly, and said, “time”.

 

Why do wise men say “time”?  Because the more mature we become, the more we realize how much time we have wasted.   Probably seeking, money, power, recognition, etc, etc.

 

So what should we use our time to attain?  Ah…that’s the problem, it’s not about attaining, it’s about giving and sharing.

 

Last night,  Sherelene and I sat quietly on the back deck and just enjoyed the quiet together, nothing spectacular, but yet, much more than spectacular!  It finally came home to me that these kinds of times may just be the best moments of my life.  It made me think of other times that brought such deep satisfaction;

 

Holding a grandchild, and hearing them proclaim, “I love you papa!”

 

Starring into the smiling face of a friend.

 

Sharing how much God loves you with someone that needs to hear that!

 

Experiencing the tears of release when someone truly knows they are forgiven, and belong to Him!

 

Listening to a  stream as the water moves between and over the rocks.

 

Staring at the stars on a quiet night, and seeing, and knowing God’s majesty.

 

Holding Sherelene’s hand with her head on my shoulder.

 

Sipping cold water when thirst has overtaken me.

 

The sensation of looking through my camera’s viewfinder, and squeezing the shutter release at the perfect moment.  The sound of the shutter!

 

Watching the color as it rises through the sky right after the sun sets.

 

You get the idea, nothing that requires money, fame, or power, only recognizing the smallest yet most profound treasures in a life!  Moments that matter!

 

So, how are you spending your most valuable asset?  I pray it is time, well spent!

 

Blessings,

 

the pilgrim

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4 Responses

  1. Diane says:

    Beautifully told, Bill. Glad you and my sister were able to take a break from your busy lives and spend some quality time together.

  2. the pilgrim says:

    Yes, me too, can’t wait to see you and Ron, soon!

  3. R Ballard says:

    My most valuable asset was spent today looking for Dr. Hell (we live in Africa, and that really is her last name, just had to take a photo of her sign) so I could get my son’s wrist X-Rayed. Yep, small break. But your list Bill would work nicely for a photo book of all those things and the rest you did not mention, to leave behind as a photo-legacy-book for your kids/grandkids. A book that generations who follow will say “this is what mom/dad/grandma/grandpa etc, were all about”.