This Latin phrase comes from (Roman) Virgil’s “Georgics” and translates: “Irretrievable time is flying.” It has been become a phrase of truth akin to most as they live in this fast-paced world.
And the term, jiffy, is an actual measurement of time —100th of a second — hardly time for anything, unless it’s the fluttering of the hummingbird’s wings. So it would seem impossible at the most to allow anyone a “jiffy” to do anything.
Nowadays, we hear about quality time, wasted time, fast time, slow time, saving time, time for myself, recovery time, family time, devotion time, prayer time, vacation time, sick time, time of my life, down time, stolen time, right time, time to go and many other “times.”
The preacher in Eccleciastes says it like this: “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.”
On Tuesday, as storms came upon us, we were told “time” played a great part in there being no injuries or loss of life. One commentator in Chattanooga said it was more than luck no one was seriously injured because “people had time to prepare” — the storms moved in while it was still daylight.
Jesus talked about time. He said, “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.”
Time is a gift. Usually, for things we enjoy, we “make” time. For things we endure, we “don’t have time.” It’s still our decision as to how we spend our time. If you give too much time to one project, you may have to “steal” time for another. It can bring regrets or it can bring satisfaction.
Changing Lanes
Patrick M. Morley
“The Man in the Mirror”
Men at the dawn of the 21st century are worn out, fatigued and overcommitted. The man with a full resumé always pays a price to get it. Something has to suffer when we are an elder, a businessman, a civic leader and a sportsman. When we run in the fast lane, precious little time remains for God and our family.
Wouldn’t you like to get out of the fast lane?
Prayerfully ask God to help you make the right choices. If you were speeding down the inside lane of a busy interstate highway at 80 miles an hour and decided to get off the road, you wouldn’t swerve sharply without warning. You would turn on your blinker and start to work your way over. Even then you would have to wait for an exit ramp.
God is not so much interested in your position as He is in your attitude, in where you are as in where you are going. When we make the decision to get out of the fast lane, God will help us, will bless the direction in which we are moving. He will empower us to make the adjustment, to find an exit. — Bible Illustrator
Several years ago, a group was discussing how fast (dreaded) birthdays came around. One woman who had terminal cancer spoke up, “I’m glad for every birthday I have,” she said. “I just thank God for giving me more time and I want to use it wisely.”
