It's About Time

Yesterday, as I sat in worship, there were times when—amid a beautiful Advent worship experience—I heard the tock-tick, tock-tick, tock-tick of a clock.  The sound did not diminish, but actually augmented my sense of God's presence.  The sound took me back to Bethel Presbyterian Church at Bay, Missouri—the church of my father’s family—the Schultes’ home church.  The little church closed some years ago, but, in particular, I hold a blessed memory of Lenten services at Bethel.  And, I remember the tock-tick, tock-tick, tock-tick of the old Regulator clock on the north wall of the sanctuary.  During silent prayers, the clock was particularly audible, marking the time, like metronome, rhythmically reminding us all that time was passing.

Yesterday, as I sat worshiping on the First Sunday of Advent, the sound of a sanctuary clock again reminded me of the passing of time.  In the church we do not “make time” or “kill time,” but we “mark time.”  We are not preoccupied with the passage of time, not anxious that each tock and tick reminds us of our mortality. Rather, in blessed hope and anticipation, we are reminded that each second is a part of God’s eternity.  In God’s good time, our redemption comes.  In God’s good time, a new creation comes.  In God’s good time, there will be life—new and glorious, no more tears, no more sorrow and sighing, no more death—just life!

So, today as I journey through my schedule, I will listen—straining to hear the tock-tick, tock-tick, tock-tick.  At least, I will remember that sound in my spirit.  I don’t have all the time in the world, but that is not a source of despair or anxiety.  I don’t have all the time—but God does.  And that is good news.  It is a gift to live in God’s good time and to be embraced by Advent hope today.

Eternity’s God, help me to center down in this moment.  Let me use the gift of this time—while there is yet time--time to make a difference in your church and in your world.  Raise my head and my heart to see your redemption, your righteousness, and your peace as it draws near.  Thank you for Advent!  Thank you for hope.  Amen.