As the semester draws to a close many will seek to manage, manipulate or even dominate time, yet few of us seek to cohabitate peacefully with this elusive life partner. Of all the lessons learned in tragedies such as those at Virginia Tech, for me I am again reminded that time is indeed a gift to relish, one which seeks covenant rather control.
C.S. Lewis once wrote, "The future is something which everyone reaches at the rate of sixty minutes an hour, whatever he does, whoever he is."
We as a culture, I fear, in our efforts to gain time have moved closer and closer to a relationship on the verge of a breakup. The stress and strain of our attempts to extend and expand our workday and all we can achieve in a day has resulted in numerous repercussions for us as individuals and a society. The Council of Churches in conjunction with the Take Back Your Time Day Organization has formed a partnership to address the impact that increased workdays and the demands on individuals has had on our society. What has been the cost for our inability to accept a 60-minute hour?
At www.timeday.org they speak to many of the potential pitfalls of this trend, not the least of which is physical health hazards resulting in billions of dollars spent to repair the damage caused by corporate, governmental and societal choices.
As a clergy person the one question they pose that stood out for me as I considered this cultural dilemma was, "Do you feel you are wasting time when you aren't accomplishing something?" As Protestant Chaplain it has been my experience that Tufts students, such accomplished individuals, often can see Sabbath time as wasteful.
Sabbath becomes a guilty pleasure. I have to wonder how we are to develop relationships with both ourselves, others and God if Sabbath time is relegated to only a chosen few or worse viewed as a sinful indulgence?
Jesus at the end of his life sat and enjoyed time with a woman who anointed his feet. He did this knowing that time was at a premium for him. Friends chastised him and yet he chose time - Sabbath time, time to reconnect with the Holy so that he might venture forward renewed.
My prayer is that as you venture forward toward work or further study, that you choose to open the gift God has given - the gift of Sabbath.
Reverend Barbara Asinger is the Associate Protestant Chaplain at Tufts University.
