Zetland Park Methodist Church Pastoral Letters
Where has the TIME gone?
As I write this the first 'real' mists of the year-end are making their chill felt in the early morning. They shroud the landscape and cause eerie shapes to 'hang around'; the dampness penetrates the bones; more clothing is put on, but those wonderful tints of fallen leaves and designs of stripped trees compensate for the forthcoming harshness of yet another winter. It's the time of the year to 'tell stories' and warm oneself around a fire --- to bask in a glow that cheers and provides internal warmth nothing can match. To grab hold of a warm 'cuppa' and maybe dip the digestive in and hope that it does not 'plonk' into the liquid!! If only ------------------ For who has 'time' to tell stories? Where are those fires around which we used to congregate? What of the 'time' just to be together with a 'cuppa'? And those wonderful fun-filled moments when you 'fished' your soggy biscuit from the liquid? ------------
'TIME' To many its 'oh-so-precious'; to others it 'drags day after day'; to the "busy" its 'Where has the TIME gone'?; to the lonely its 'Why don't they have time for me?'
I look at my diary and wonder how I can fulfill all that I think I need to do, not just what is required of me. I chafe 'at the bit' when I run out of time and miss what I would like to see on tv ---- be it a match or play, or just a relaxing item ------- I am frustrated when I 'run out of time' to see folk; or there is little if any time just to have that much-promised cuppa and a fire-side chat.
As the age profile of our congregations gets older, the task before me and all pastoral visitors becomes more demanding as there is much more folk 'who need you most' and time becomes a premium element each precious, God-given day. Each and every one of you is IMPORTANT: never think anything otherwise, and each of you needs time to be with God and to share what God has for you. This is not to suggest that you MUST do this or that; or attend so many services or 'jump through this hoop or over this hurdle', but to 'give some time to God' after all look at all the time He has given you.
Many years ago, I was given a pocket Bible which stayed in pocket or briefcase each and every day of my secular working life. Each day, before I left the car to walk that last distance to the office, I would read a portion of Scripture. There was many a time when those Words of the Lord sustained me through a crisis or were the source of inspiration in a discussion or calms me in situations of confrontation or distress.
Then there were the moments I spent in God Presence when all around seemed 'lost' and I wondered what was to happen to me and my career. I held to the Word and gave time for it to soak into my system and 'let God speak to me' through that crazy, horrendously life-changing experience. Yet without those 'precious moments with the Lord' …..of carving out time and space for Him, I would not have survived those deep moments of crisis nor been able to discern what His will was to be for me. I am so glad I 'gave Him time' for I learned so much about His love, even for me.
Yet there will be the waves of those who will say, 'I have no time to give; I am up to my eyes in so many things at the moment; God will have to wait'. Make no mistake, He will but you need to ask this question, 'Can you really do without Him at the centre of your life? Take time to answer, for how you answer will change your life and time will be so precious in His sight.