Our Misunderstanding of Time

As a mom, I struggle with time. It is always passing. It cannot be slowed, stopped or rewound. My kids grow whether I give them permission to or not. My parents age whether I’m ready for them to or not.

Each day we’re allotted the same amount of hours, never more, and never less.

Which made March so astonishing. When everything was cancelled, mid March due to Covid-19, I felt like I had just gained time! For at least a week, every day felt like a Saturday. So much time! The kids and house still needed tending to, of course, but we didn’t have the stiff walls of Agenda around us.

For me, much of this pandemic has been wrapped up in time. I wonder how long life like this will last. I question what I should ‘do’ with this time. How will this time change us? Who might we lose in this time? What will life be like when this time is over?

And of course, the inescapable thoughts come, like how much time do I have left? How much time do I have left with those I love? Who is almost out of time?

Two Perspective On Time

There are two different Greek words that refer to time, however they are both typically translated as ‘time’ in English.

The first Greek word is ‘chronos.’ When you think chronos, think chronological. Chronos time, refers to the measurable, hour and minute time. When we have an appointment or a start date, that is all talking about chronos time.

‘Kairos’ is a Greek word that refers to time in a different way. Kairos is the kind of time that can’t be measured so easily. It is more like a season, opportunity, or culmination of events. Jesus often used kairos when talking about time.

Be on guard! Be alert! For you do not know when that time will come.

Mark 13:33

Because my children are nearing the age when they can begin driving, I’m constantly looking for opportunities to teach them the safety of the road. Opportunities to teach them do not come at a certain chronos, but rather at certain kairos.

Unfortunately, because we typically think of all ‘time’ along the lines of chronos, it means we easily miss kairos, the opportune time.

Everything was cancelled for about one week until employers, businesses and organizations discovered ways they could continue. My string of cancellation emails was immediately followed by new event emails- online work-outs, online seminars, online church, online doctors visits, online baking classes, online language classes.

While none of these things is bad in and of themselves, the feeling of freedom that initially gave me joy faded as I felt a new expectation to keep up with all these new opportunities. I didn’t have to do any of those things of course, but now that I had the ‘time’ shouldn’t I at least keep up with most of them?

Well, I may have the time (chronos), but perhaps this kairos is the opportunity for something else.

This time is unlike any other in my or my children’s lifetime. I want to be clear headed, prayerful and alert through it, not swept away with what I should or could do with this time.

Prayer:

Jesus, awaken our spirits, that we would know the time (kairos)! What are you doing on the Earth? How are we as Christians to respond. Help us to see, hear and respond according to your great will.

Let your kingdom come to Earth as it is in heaven. In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.