As the White Rabbit said, in Lewis Carroll’s story of Alice in Wonderland, “I’m late, I’m late. For a very important date. No time to say “Hello.” Goodbye. I’m late, I’m late, I’m late.” Do you find yourself on time? Out of time? Running late? What is your relationship with time and punctuality in this season of your life? Do you find yourself with too much time on your hands or not enough to get through the daily schedule of tasks/activities and responsibilities? While we might keep an eye on the time, Ecclesiastes Chapter 3 tells us that there is time for everything under the sun.
I have certainly found on countless occasions, over the years, that God has stretched out the time and enabled me to do more than I thought was possible within the allotted time frame. As the Psalmist said, “My times are in your hands.”(Psalm 31:15) The key to this is, in my experience, keeping to the time I have set apart to be with the Lord, before rushing headlong into a busy schedule.
Take a few moments to settle into stillness, in whichever way seems most appropriate for you today and then take time to reflect on being late. Are you ever late for events or appointments? How does this make you feel? How does it make those you are meeting feel? Is being late a conscious or unconscious strategy? Or is it just a vagary of the transport system?
After reflecting, listen to the Lord and seek his perspective on this for you.
Then pray through the insights you have gained and echo the words of Psalm 31:15 above, with gratitude.