July 13, 2004

[Rev. Doc]

Time

"Now listen, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.' Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? you are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes."
James 4:13-14

It is amazing not only how much of our own time we waste, but also that of other's.

The rules at a particular university were such that if the professor were not present in the classroom by 15 minutes past the hour, the class was considered a "walk" and the students were free to leave -- with no penalties for missing a class. The rooms were equipped with the type wall clocks which "jumped" ahead each minute, in a very noticeable fashion. These clocks were also not of the most sophisticated construction. Some enterprising student discovered that if one were to hit the clock with chalkboard erasers, it would cause the clock to "jump" ahead one minute. So, it became almost daily routine for these students to take target practice at the clock (as it would have it, this particular professor was not the most punctual). A few well-aimed erasers, and lo, 15 minutes were passed, and class dismissed itself.

When the day for the next exam rolled around, the professor strolled into the room, passed out the exams, and told them "You have one hour to complete it."

The professor then proceeded to collect the erasers from around the room and gleefully took aim at the clock. When he had successfully "jumped" the clock forward one hour, he closed the class and collected the exam papers.

Time, be it our own or others is a precious commodity and should never be squandered.

Prayer: Ask God to help you exercise control over your time, spending wisely what is allotted to you.

"Millions long for immortality who do not know what to do with themselves on a rainy Sunday afternoon." ~Susan Ertz.