When Time Doesn't Matter

"When do I need that?" My husband laughs as he answers the parts person as he orders a part to repair the tractor. There's a dubious greasy item laying on his desk as he speaks into the phone. "I needed it yesterday, but when can you have it in?" He pauses listening to the answer. "If that's as early as you can get it..."

We like our service to be fast in this country. If things don't hum right along we get a bit testy. At least in this corner of Oz. If it doesn't suit us, ofen there is someone else who will compete to give us what we're looking for.

My mother told about several incidents her first husband had when they were living in Texas back in the 1940's. He went in to check on a car repair and was told it would be done tomorrow--manana.  So he came back the next day--manana, but it wasn't done yet. He was told come back manana. This happened several times, until he said, "Listen you told me manana on Monday. It is now Friday, and why isn't it done?"

The long and the short of it was that the word manana that he thought meant tomorrow actually meant--tomorrow or any day there after.

One of the frustrating things when working in some areas overseas is the attitude many of the local people have toward schedules. Bible study and worship service are scheduled to begin at 10:00 A.M. A few people are there on time, and others trickle in until just before services are over.

Not everyone has transportation, consequently they begin by walking. In Jamaica, for example, common citizens act as 'taxis' and stop to give pedestrians rides. These taxis are expecting to be reimbursed for the services of course. But travel is not always predictable in this manner.


At one time in this country we were more laid back with our schedules. Not that people were lackadaisical about keeping their schedules, but it took longer to get from one place to another, and that was the way things ran.

In this country the saying 'Time is Money', is quite accurate, but is it wise? In the two examples it is quite rude to know when something is scheduled and trickle in, or give someone a 'time' and not be interested enough to get it done. It is thoughtless, but as an old writer, Rebecca McCann put it in her book of clever quips, The Cheerful Cherub: I'll never work to long or hard--I think it would be funny, Since life is worth so much to me, To spend it all for money. (Thrift, Rebecca McCann)

There will come a time in this life when time doesn't matter. During the delivery of a baby--for that time at least to the woman delivering the child, the only thing that is important is taking care of the business at hand. When someone you love is sick--or in an emergency, or--why is it we don't seem to know how to slow down and live our lives unless there is extenuating circumstances?

I raise my hand. I'm as guilty as anyone. Push, push, push! Have to get this done, or that, or...but there will be a time when all that we thought was important won't be. There is a song by William J. Gaither entitled,          I Believe In Mount Calvary.

There are things as we travel this earth's shifting sands
That transcend all the reason of man;
But the things that matter the most in this world,
They can never be held in your hand.

I believe that the Christ that was slain on that cross
Has the power to change lives today;
For He changed me completely, a new life is mine,
That is why by the Cross I will stay.

I believe that this life with it's great mysteries
Surely, someday will come to and end;
But faith will conquer and darkness and death,
And will lead me at last to my friend.
I believe in a hill called Mount Calv'ry, I'll believe whatever the cost; And when time is surrendered and earth is no more, I'll still cling to the old rugged cross.

1Corinthians 15:52 " in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. . . 55) O death, where is thy victory? O death, where is thy sting? . . . 57)  but thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."
                                                   Hallelujah, What a Saviour!