Reflections and Ramblings--Assistant Minister Pastor Dan Wilkie
I don’t know how many of you have noticed but, as
I write this for February’s Tower Chimes, this first month of 2008 is
already half over...the time seems to fly by! I think, for most of us,
this happens because we are so incredibly busy. Everyone I talk to
seems to have a great deal going on, places to see, and activities to
attend, so much so that they rarely even notice the elapsing of time.
Yet what do people do who have little to do, perhaps those confined to
a hospital bed, or those too infirm to get out...what do they do with
their time? Do they notice the passing of time as fast as those who
are so busy? And what about those whose lives revolve around trying to
find a warm place to sleep at night, or a warm meal to eat, or maybe
even a friendly face...what are their lives like?
What started me looking at this was a comment Mary made this morning
about this month’s passing so quickly, and, yes, when we are busy time
does pass quickly. But for those whose situation is different, time
may take on an entirely new dimension. They are soon lost in the
day-to-day struggles of just resting, healing, eating and sleeping,
trying to provide for basic needs. And in listening to these folks we
hear that time is lost, days are lost, and to some extent life itself
is lost.
What is saddest is listening to a person whose own choices have
limited their ability to function, like the person who refuses to try
and walk for exercise because it takes too much energy and might be a
tad uncomfortable. Or, listening to persons who have been told to quit
smoking for their health, but who continue to smoke, perhaps even
increasing the amount they smoke, and thereby become more ill due to
the effects of this habit to the point that they can no longer work or
care for themselves. And, there are the persons who continue to do
drugs, refuse to seek treatment for their addiction, lose everything
and end up on the streets.
We truly are impacted by the choices we make on a daily basis, whether
it is diet, exercise, drinking, drugs, or even our relationship with
God as a part of our spiritual journey.
Blessings,
Dan
In case you’re wondering why Lent
and Easter are so early this year, here’s the answer from Jeanne and
Owen Wells, editors of the Florence (OR) Presbyterian Church, who
wrote an article about Easter: “Do you know how the date for Easter
was set?” they ask. “Easter is the first Sunday after the first full
moon after the vernal equinox. Obviously, this was the work of a
committee.”
Friday January 25th...What a Great Evening!