I am currently reading Mitch Albom's latest book, The Timekeeper. Although I have not yet completed the read, I understand that this novel, in part, is about the creation of "Father Time" . . . who was once a young boy eons ago, but who became obsessed with keeping track of seconds, minutes, days, months, and years. In short, he was cursed by the very structures he created, and by the "time" that dictated his life.
Ever felt like that?
My hunch is that we all live by the clock and by the calendar and we live a life as T.S. Eliot once described as "measured out in coffee spoons." Before we know it, life is ebbing to a close, and we wonder: "Where did it go?" or "What have I accomplished with my life?"
In classical Greek philosophy--but also an idea we find incorporated in our New Testament writings--we encounter two ways of understanding and living "time".
The most common is "chronos" (cronos), which is a Greek word from which we derive English words like "chronology" and "chronological". This concept, which is commonly rendered "time", has to do with measurement, or our human experience and pursuits based on progression of days, weeks, and years.
But there is another Greek word "chairos" (cairos) which is a different concept of time. In Classical Greek it referred to the life of the gods, or the immortals who lived beyond the bounds of days, weeks, and years. However, in the New Testament, Jesus seems to be referring to this kind of "time" when he speaks of the eternal life--which is a life that we can inhabit now, and which allows us to enter into a "time-less" life that is no longer enslaved to "chronos".
Interesting stuff. But what does it have to do with you and me?
Two quick thoughts:
1. When we have a relationship with God, we are already living "in the kingdom" as Jesus described it. We have already entered the realm of the divine ("the abundant life" "the eternal life"). We can begin to see life in ways that are colored with love, hope, and joy/faith (1 Corinthians 13). The old has passed away.
2. Christ told us that it is possible to live a life that is not enslaved to the clock, to the calendar, and to the life-long pursuits of those things that we cannot take with us into the eternal realm. We can learn how to store up for ourselves "treasures in heaven", which have become timeless pursuits, and which unite us with the heavenly host--and all of those who are no longer enslaved to time.
It's a wonderful thing, isn't it, when we can pass from "chronos" people to becoming "chairos" people. We have a purpose to our time, our work, and our existence. And, actually, it can be a lot of fun. For it doesn't end!
Ever felt like that?
My hunch is that we all live by the clock and by the calendar and we live a life as T.S. Eliot once described as "measured out in coffee spoons." Before we know it, life is ebbing to a close, and we wonder: "Where did it go?" or "What have I accomplished with my life?"
In classical Greek philosophy--but also an idea we find incorporated in our New Testament writings--we encounter two ways of understanding and living "time".
The most common is "chronos" (cronos), which is a Greek word from which we derive English words like "chronology" and "chronological". This concept, which is commonly rendered "time", has to do with measurement, or our human experience and pursuits based on progression of days, weeks, and years.
But there is another Greek word "chairos" (cairos) which is a different concept of time. In Classical Greek it referred to the life of the gods, or the immortals who lived beyond the bounds of days, weeks, and years. However, in the New Testament, Jesus seems to be referring to this kind of "time" when he speaks of the eternal life--which is a life that we can inhabit now, and which allows us to enter into a "time-less" life that is no longer enslaved to "chronos".
Interesting stuff. But what does it have to do with you and me?
Two quick thoughts:
1. When we have a relationship with God, we are already living "in the kingdom" as Jesus described it. We have already entered the realm of the divine ("the abundant life" "the eternal life"). We can begin to see life in ways that are colored with love, hope, and joy/faith (1 Corinthians 13). The old has passed away.
2. Christ told us that it is possible to live a life that is not enslaved to the clock, to the calendar, and to the life-long pursuits of those things that we cannot take with us into the eternal realm. We can learn how to store up for ourselves "treasures in heaven", which have become timeless pursuits, and which unite us with the heavenly host--and all of those who are no longer enslaved to time.
It's a wonderful thing, isn't it, when we can pass from "chronos" people to becoming "chairos" people. We have a purpose to our time, our work, and our existence. And, actually, it can be a lot of fun. For it doesn't end!
No comments:
Post a Comment