At the end of one year and the beginning of another there is a pause as we think back of the year gone by and perhaps give a general assessment of what the year was like. This could be that it was a brilliant year, or as Queen Elizabeth noted in 1992 it was an “annus horribilis”. Our lives are seemingly divided by the arbitrary dates and spans of time.

These divisions help us. We are better able to plan. We can then use time wisely. But time is something we have so little of. Those who live to very old age are few though a growing number are living into their nineties. We see time “kairos” which seems to drip drip and we don’t notice the passing of 25 or 30 years. But indeed it is gone. And we realize that all those things we wanted to accomplish and didn’t – putting off until “someday” – and then seeing it was too late. Old dreams are swept aside and the reality of present time sets in.

We need to remember in all of this, that while we have to live “in time” God does not. He is outside of our time and is not limited to it or by it. Eternity is “time” for God, no beginning and no end. What can this do for us who are bound to a limited time here? We can remember that God experienced time through the years in the life of Jesus (Emmanuel – God With Us) who walked among us and lived our time experience. So yes he does understand “time”. The creator of the universe also chose to be part of that same creation, to live with his creation! So when I hear a secular artist sing “What if God Was One of Us?” I can reply he was and he understands our condition. Our time therefore can be used for good; for the good of others and the holiness and sanctification of ourselves and those around us.

Let us live the coming year in the knowledge that we can and should live a life full of expectation and offering service to others and living a life in communion with God and humanity.  “Your days at the most cannot be very long, so use them to the best of your ability for the glory of God and the benefit of your generation.” (General William Booth)