“There is a difference between temporal time (our time on this earth) and eternal time (eternity with God). When you view time as a gift and understand your temporal time is fleeting you will live your life differently. Time goes so quickly, you need to cherish every moment and live with a purpose. When you wake up every day and ask “Ok, God, what are we going to do today?” You will use each day as if it were a gift from God to you.
The eternal perspective helps you get through the troubles of your days because you know in light of eternity, our problems are momentary. When you live for God, you know you can get through your temporary problems because you know you will have eternity with God.”
Dennis Baril in “Time is a Gift, Use it Wisely” blog post dated 20 February 2011.
Yesterday was my second “snow day” and while I still wished I was pheasant hunting with friends in North Dakota, God blessed me with another gift. The gift of time with a friend whose health is failing. His name is Scott Loe. Scott’s been battling kidney failure for about four years. Over that time I’ve had the privilege of picking up a couple Subway sandwiches and taking them to his place for lunch about once a month. We’ve laughed together and cried together. Over a 6″ black forest ham and cheese sub, we have talked about everything from the Bible to Major League Baseball.
Yesterday, a mutual friend, Tom Assmus, kindly texted me and told me that he had just visited Scott who seemed to be, in Baril’s words, nearing the end of his temporal time. I was so thankful to be able to go over to his house to say goodbye. Scott was lucid for only a few minutes. I reminded him of what he would soon experience, eternity with God and relief from pain, and with his wife Mindy by his side, we prayed for a merciful end to his suffering. Scott has taught me a lot these past four years about waiting patiently for the Lord and enduring suffering, and now I find myself overwhelmed with the realization that time is a gift of God.
The question for each of us is this: How will we use the gift of time?