Timeless

Posted on January 8th, 2014

Timeless

By Catherine Patterson

I have a fascination with clocks, particularly the old-fashioned ones that tick-tock and play music. Currently, I have two tick-tockers in my room alone and at least five others scattered throughout the rest of the house. I am always on the lookout for new clocks, and I am in the process of acquiring a purple cuckoo clock, the most adorable little clock that combines two of my favorite things- purple and clocks.

I’ve grown accustomed to hearing the constant ticking of clocks, and my subconscious sometimes plays tricks on me to where I can hear ticking everywhere I go. When it comes down to it, my attraction for clocks lies mainly in the comfort and familiarity of being at home (with my various clocks).

Ironically, the familiarity of the ticking is also an ever present reminder of how fast time flies. Time is not money that you can replace if you work hard enough. If you waste time, you can never get it back. There are only 365 days in a year, and only 86,400 seconds in a day. It is super-duper easy to waste a day as you assume there will always be another one.

What does wasting mean? Simply not doing your best, slacking in school, being lazy, and most of all, not living like a Christian. It may not seem like you’re wasting much time—it’s only a day. But days turn into weeks, weeks turn into months, and months turn into years. I’m about to have my 18^th birthday next week, and I’ve come to the realization that I will never ever be 17 again. Never. This year of my life is over. I will never get that time back.

In my almost 18 year old wisdom, I’ve come to realize that time is priceless. I would never waste $356, but I have the audacity to carelessly waste 365 days of my life. It’s easy to think that I can do better tomorrow, next year, or when I’m older. But that’s an excuse we use for not really wanting to change right now. As my Grandmother says, “An excuse is just a reason with a lie.”

It’s also easy to think that I’m too young to make valuable use of my time by representing Christ. After all, I’m just a teenager. What I say and do can’t be that important. That’s no excuse either. You don’t have to be an adult or have oodles of theological knowledge to live like a Christian. You know that the term ‘Christian’ means follower of Christ. My question to you is, “Are you following Christ?” Can anyone tell by your lifestyle that you love Jesus? Are you different than some of the kids at school? Do you treat your teachers and peers with respect? In 1 Timothy 4:12, Paul says, “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.” And you can be an example…if you try.

You will never live the same day twice. And as hard as you try, you will never be able to erase what you did today. Photos may fade, letters may smear, emails may be deleted, but your actions will never disappear.

One day, you will have to account for how you spent your days on earth. Were they worthwhile? Did they point others to Christ? Or did you idly let each day slip through your fingers? Make how you spend your days last far longer than the days themselves- make them timeless.

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