tyranny of time, The

Lutheran, The, Jul 2001 by Everist, Norma Cook

We must find a balance between holy work and sabbath rest

Chris needs to contact a coworker and Jesse is eager to touch base with an old friend. They could pick up the phone-they each carry one--or write an e-mail. But piles of work leave Chris unable to decide which means of communication to use, and Jesse is just too tired to make plans for leisure.

When work is a race and rest a mirage, we become captives to the tyranny of time. Our society has adopted 2417 time-the epidemic of endless availability. We need the weekend to "catch up," but are too tired to welcome the Sabbath. This begs two questions:

* What is our relationship with time?

* How can we experience the healthy rhythm of holy work and sabbath rest?

We live in a time-lock, not unlike traffic gridlock, where our demands become so overwhelming that we can't crowd another thing into our schedule.

In an age of unprecedented labor-saving devices and recreational opportunities, why do we work longer and enjoy the luxury of leisure less?

Consider:

The vanishing pause. Instant communication brings the expectation of instant response (in an already instant-- gratification society). We used to wait a few days for a reply to an inquiry, but technology steps up the pace. Tight schedules leave us little time to catch our breath, much less ponder. By eliminating "unnecessary" delays, we've become uncomfortable with even a few minutes of solitude.

Multitasking. Most of us have learned to do two, three or five things at once. While the computer boots up, we return a voice-mail message, page through a stack of mail or computer printouts, or schedule a meeting with someone at the office door.

The bondage of choice. Freedom of choice has become the bondage of choice. Selecting from endless TV channels and vacation options can be overwhelming. Choosing from the "personal options" on a recorded message can send the already-irritated over the edge.

In the midst of demands, nostalgia for a simpler time is not the answer. We can't go back and probably wouldn't want to do so. Those so-called simpler days carried their burdens and complexities too.

Who or what is time to you?

Our issues with time run deep and wide. To explore your relationship with time, try this exercise.

Imagine your relationship with time:

* Draw your image of time.

* Name time in one word or a phrase.

* Have a "conversation" with time, even sitting "Time" down in the chair across from you. What does Time say to you? What do you say back?

Those who have done this exercise say time is ...

* Like a train I can't catch. The faster I run, the faster it speeds away.

* A taskmaster, standing over me in judgment.

* Money. I budget what I spend on projects or people.

* A set of chains, and I'm in bondage.

* A dull friend who hangs around. I have too much time on my hands.

* A bargaining chip. I use it to negotiate.

* Power control. I use it to compete.

* A healer that patiently waits for me.

* Elastic, stretching, expanding, but sometimes snapping back in my face.

Time unveils our goals and God

Balancing holy work and sabbath rest is a spiritual issue related to the decisions we make each day. Our relationship with time tells us who we are and what we value. Before we blame our bondage on too many responsibilities, channels or choices, we need to be honest about how we spend our time.

Since the beginning, human rhythm has been about work and rest. Even the heart beats and rests, beats and rests.

Time is a gift from our Triune God. Our Creator God sets the days and seasons in regular motion. Imagine our confusion if God-on a whim-- provided one day with seven hours and the next day with 43?

We also have a God of encounter. At the right time, Christ was born in the fullness of time, setting us free so time no longer holds us hostage. The Spirit breathes into us new opportunities for holy work and sabbath rest.

Rest, God declares, is crucial. It's not wasted time or sinful-it's an essential part of life's rhythm. In our race with time, we've become a sleep-deprived society, causing accidents on the road and on the job and stress in human relationships.

So we remember, God rested and invites us-commands us-to rest. Even Jesus slept. The Spirit refreshes, breathing new life into us for love and service.

The pervasiveness of such articles as "Ten Things to Do to Save Time" only reminds us of our problems with time and the elusiveness of a solution. Perhaps the solution isn't to "save" time but to rest in the belief that God in Christ has already saved us and placed us in a new relationship with the timeless God. 1610

Sabbath as true holy day

Practicing Sabbath refashions our relationship with time. Martin Luther said "sabbath" means to rest, to stop work, hence our common expression of holy day or "holiday."

Luther wrote: "The common people who have attended to their work and trades the whole week long should retire for a day to rest and be refreshed." But Luther wanted people to do more than refrain from work, or work hard at play-after all, vacations often exhaust rather than refresh. Sabbath, for Luther, centered on God's word.