An Opportune Time

“How did it get so late so soon? It's night before it's afternoon. December is here before it's June. My goodness how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon?” 
― Dr. Seuss

Speaking of time, It is hard to believe that almost nine months ago we received our assignment to Ecuador.  And somewhere in between then and now, we served, and we returned. Dr. Seuss expresses well what we feel most of the time, which is we can't explain what time is doing.  For us, time has a hidden dimension that we don't understand:  we can manage it, but it can manage us, too.  In our effort to explain time, we use puzzling phrases/expressions, yet we still understand ourselves.
For example, we say...
It doesn't seem like...(that was nine months ago)
It seems like...(that was ions ago)
Where did time go? (Nowhere!  It's still here.)
My, how time flies. (It actually doesn't; it is a constant.)

We overestimate the time needed for a drive or a project and arrive or finish early.
We underestimate the time needed for a drive or a project and arrive or finish late.
This took more time than we had anticipated.
We need more time!
We don't need more time!
Time well spent...
Wasted time...
This was the longest day of my life!
Where did this day/week/month go?
A deadline is time with man-made limitation.
We had the BEST time!
Busy time...
Down time...
A good investment of time

When we reflect on our "time," which is really our duration, in Riobamba, Ecuador, we feel a joy that comes from "time well spent."  It was a busy time with little down time and a rewarding investment of time.  While there, we frequently asked ourselves, "Where did this week go?"  Or, " Today was the BEST time ever!"  We didn't worry about the use of time because we were able to follow someone else's schedule, or their timetable.  Everything fell into place according to time, and only time will tell of the impact/influence we had while spending time there.  We were always looking for that "opportune time," which is outside the dimensions of a wrist watch or a clock.

All our time is dispensed to us from a heavenly realm by an Almighty God, who, thank heavens, did not show favoritism for He gave to every individual in this universe the same amount of time each day, week, month, year, decade, etc. We all receive that "opportune time" that only comes once and is never regained.  Jesus was the Master Manager of time.  He made time to recharge His time, "But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed." (Luke 5:16)  On the other hand, His time was constantly being interrupted by those who wanted to spend time with Him.  Our lives can and do parallel Jesus' lifestyle when we find time to recharge through prayer and even when our schedules are interrupted either by accident or with intention. Wherever dispensed time takes us, planned or interrupted, may we always be aware of those "opportune times" to accomplish the good that will impact time and eternity.
 
Keep Looking Up!   Jim and Linda