"TI-I-IME IS ON MY SIDE . . . YES IT IS"

Hi, Ladies. Okay, speaking of worry and stress . . . I sat down to write our first post in the "Worry" series (let's think of a different name for it) and as usual I began by reading your comments. At least, I TRIED to read them.

But there was so much, as OLIVIA would say, gosh darn SPAM in there, I had to spend most of my time reporting it and deleting it. I mean, seriously, you do not need to be wading through pharmaceutical ads on here! Honestly.

Then by the time I read your actual comments -- which I try to do very carefully -- my work hours are almost over. Arghh -- I hate spam!

So I'm all, "I don't have TIME for all these issues," and this song pops into my head. It was popular when I was in, um, high school (yikes) and I hear it every now and then on the sixties station on Sirius radio.  I don't remember who sang it but I CAN remember the lyrics they did over and over (and did I mention over?): "Ti-i-a-ime is on my side. Yes it is." Think of it being sung like a desperate dirge and you'll have it. (It was the sixties, okay?)  There is only one reason that thing would come into my head just then. Okay, maybe two reasons. One is that I'm going crazy. The other is that God is reminding me that time really IS on our side.

    * We're each given as much time as we need -- TO DO WHAT GOD WANTS US TO DO. I don't have time to do everything my publishers want me to do in terms of social media. I don't have time to clean my house the way my mother would think it needed to be cleaned (sometimes I'm sure she is churning in her urn, bless her heart). I don't have time to play as much as my dogs want me to (which would be twenty-four seven). You can make your own list of things other people want you to do that you just flat don't have enough hours for. But each of us has time to do what GOD wants us to do. It's a matter of figuring out what that is and doing it first. 

    * There are two kinds of time. One is the kind we usually think of, which is chronos. Twenty-four hours in a day. Minutes ticking away. First this happens, then that happens, on schedule. You know the word chronological? That's what we're talking. But then there is kairos time. God's time. The kind of time when you lose yourself in something worthwhile and the minutes seem to expand so that chronos time doesn't seem to matter. I feel like I'm in kairos time when I'm really in the writing zone, doing the work God has given me to do. Or when I'm in a deep, meaningful conversation with someone. Or sometimes when I'm practicing centering prayer. You've probably experienced kairos time and maybe didn't even realize it. Give that some thought. The more kairos time we have, the less chronos time will be our slave master.

    * If it feels like time is the enemy, something needs to be looked at. Believe me I know this because I do battle with it ALL the time. That's what we're going to look at tomorrow: how time becomes our opponent and what we can do to turn that around.

So between now and tomorrow if you want to comment:

    * offer any suggestions for what we should call this series on worry

    * share with us the things other people expect of you that you truly don't have time for

    * tell us about a time when you experienced kairos

     * tell us whether time feels like the enemy or a friend -- or sometimes one, sometimes the other.

    Before I go -- welcome back MEGAN!  Welcome EA! RACHEL we hope things went well this weekend on the east coast.  EMII, thanks for the compliment about Mrs. Isaacsen. Next new fiction book? The MERCIFUL SCAR, coming out in August. Please pray for ABI whose whole family has the flu, especially her grandmother, and for Therese who has an important counseling session next week.  GRACE ANNE, you've gotten great advice from the girls here about the boy situation. Don't you just wish people would basically mind their own business? Seriously.

I love you all. See you here tomorrow?

"For everything there is a sesason, and a time for every matter under heaven." (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

 

Blessings,

Nancy Rue   

   

 

Comments

[Paige]

I cannot wait until Merciful Scar comes out, and I LOVE the title.
I'll be thinking on my responses!

[*Olivia* :)]

I cant wait until your new book comes out as well! i kind of liked the, " giving up freaking out" name you threw in there a couple of posts ago...

[Melody]

I haven't been on much lately, but I am reading all the posts. I really love what you said about kairos and chronos time. I think just being ready and open for kairos time to happen at any time helps chronos time not seem so stressful. Just yesterday I was feeling frustrated and stressed out and like there just wasn't enough time, but I got a text from a friend who's struggling and I was ready to drop everything right then to call her or do whatever she needed. Even that 5 minutes of "I'm here to help however I can" helped the rest of my day not seem so busy and overwhelming.

[Marlee]

I'm so glad I saw this post now! I took a break from the seemingly neverending strain of homework, and I just found out today that I didn't get a scholarship I really need for college. So I've been worrying about that. But I feel very inspired by that idea that there is always enough time to do what God wants you to do. And I think He is calling me to enjoy these final months of high school, really, to make strong connections with my friends and spend some time NOT freaking out. I like that title, giving up freaking out, also. (:

[Abby:)]

I usually experience kairos any time I'm dancing/rehearsing/performing, but I also experience time as an enemy whenever I try to do my homework (like today - though I must say, I got a whole lot of cleaning and meal planning done).

Praying for everyone!!

[Katie]

I experience kairos whenever I'm immersed in a good book or listening to classical music. That's when I feel most relaxed and most removed from everything that's stressing me out.

Time feels like an enemy right now, because it's gong too fast- I have a couple of huge project deadlines coming up that I haven't even started (of course, that's my own fault :) and a big college scholarship trip that I'm freaking out about. And the leader of the Gay-Straight Alliance at my school recently approached me to see if I'd be interested in having some sort of dialogue/debate with the club, so I'm stressed about that, too. Needless to say, this series is going to be super helpful!! :)

[Paige]

I agree withthe other girls, I generally experience kairos when immersed in a book. Or, for me, (excuse the cheesy girliness I shall exhibit for a change) when I'm with my boyfriend.

As for time, definitely an enemy for me right now. I'm pretty stressed with finalizing my college choice, filling out scholarships, working 30 hours a week, serving on our church board, attending youth group, taking my 4 college classes, does the list ever end? Just typing it up I get a little tight chested! Anyway, enough of that. My little pity party is over.

[Ea]

I feel so welcomed! Thanks, girls; you are awesome. I had no idea...
The concept of chronos or kairos time is interesting. The more I think of it, the more I think of things that make me experience kairos. Reading a good book, writing (when I get started), running (it always amazes me how running or other physical work helps me relax and focus), learning a new skill(if I find i enjoy it), spending time alone outside and surrounded by nature, or being with friends. I think that perhaps I need to seek out these things more. Maybe I'll start keeping a list of things like that, so if I ever need to be reminded, I can go back and read it. :)

[Alexandria]

I experience chronos if I start my assignments a day later then my plans, and when it comes to my music practice. Once I dive in and actually face the fear and just do it- I find myself in kairos getting carried away by that difficult piano piece,or enjoying the research in History. One thing that has been seriously getting me down- my teacher in piano needs me to practice two hours a day at least, and I have come to realize that while it is oh so easy to practice four hours a day in the summer,the last school semester is way harder- regardless of the fact that classical education means you are home a bit more than the average kid. Did Mrs.Rue mean that last bit about Grace -Anne sarcastically? Are we not allowed to say anything about someone else 's problems that they ask about? Sorry I don't know :(