[This is one in a series of devotional reflections prepared for Horley Baptist Church during May 2022]
What is this life if, full of care, We have not time to stand and stare?
These words, written by Welsh poet WH Davies (1871-1940) have been quoted and misquoted many times in defence of a more sedate lifestyle. The argument is that a little bit of a diversion is actually beneficial, potentially relieving some of the stress endemic in a western urban lifestyle.
Imagine if Abraham had picked up his knife and said “let’s get this over with” instead of taking the time to look into the thicket and thereby save his son. Or Moses saying “these sheep are so stupid that I cannot take my eyes off them” instead of taking the time to investigate the burning bush, which led to him saving a nation. What life-changing opportunities are you missing simply because you are too busy to stand and stare awhile?
In much of our commercial world, time has a value, a pause has a price. Many professional specialists are obliged to record the amount of time spent for each client, and charge them accordingly. Even by being late for an appointment you are depriving someone else of something that is of value to them.
By contrast there are those who do not recognise the value of time in the same way; in its extreme, procrastination is ok, tomorrow will do. No doubt we have all encountered this type of attitude; it is especially annoying when we are waiting for something to get done. Often we feel that our valuable time is being wasted.
The sun and the moon that form the basis of our time keeping were created during the fourth phase of creation[1] but God has a different concept of time. For him a day is as a thousand (earth) years, a thousand years are as a day[2]. God created time, he controls time and he is always on time.
What are the spiritual implications of this time management dichotomy?
It is possible to be so engrossed in church activities that our other obligations do not get the attention they deserve, and we become a poor witness in the sight of those around us. It is also possible that our need to be involved is denying other people the opportunity to develop their own talents.
Conversely, it is possible to feel so secure in our faith that we feel it no longer needs cultivation. The Lord has other hands to do his work, other feet to run for him. Moses tried “Lord, send someone else” and we are told that God was displeased with his response.
Elijah was treated to a display of the wonders of nature but it was in the subsequent pause that God spoke to him. The psalmist was writing in advance of that event but he knew the same sentiment: “Be still and know that I am God”[3]. In 1920 Emily Crawford expanded on the same thought with these familiar words:
Speak Lord in the stillness, whilst we wait on thee;
Hushed our hearts to listen in expectancy.
So, for us, what is the value of a pause? Are we willing to wait and listen for that still small voice? Let us redraft the poet’s words:
What is this life if, every day, we have not time to pause and pray?
[1] Genesis 1 v14
[2] 2 Peter 3 v8
[3] Psalm 46 v10
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Contributed by Steve Humphreys; © the Author
Dear Steve;
Thanks for your faithful perseverance in writing these devotionals.