Catalyst

Twenty-first century life is lived on a tilt-a-whirl. We spin in so many directions, resulting in emotional and spiritual vertigo.

Life gets as knotted as a first-grader’s shoestring. It may not be what you do but doing too many things at the inappropriate time.

The Greeks distilled language into specific parts. They had two words for time. One describes the placement of hands on a clock–chronos time. The other had a different texture. It swirled with the winds of October gently plucking ochre colored leaves from trees. Such is “kairos-time.”

Kairos time lives by the season, not the timetable. A kairos-based life . . .

• works at the right time.
• plays at the right time.
• rests at the right time.

Confuse them and it is like snow on the 4th of July!

We might avoid the work we need to do with gossip over coffee,  sharing our opinions of why the team lost on Sunday, or looking at the latest funny website. We do everything at work but work. Life’s balance beam falls to one side. Long hours drag you from your family and drops you wearily in a bed at night where your demons invade your sleep. Both work and play feel cheated.

Others never “unplug.” The ping of email, the chirp of text messages, and the interesting link of the internet means minds never rest. The Hebrews use a word for rest which means “to fall to the ground.” Everyone needs time where life settles. The mind and soul need the refreshment of the unstrung bow.

Examine your schedule. (If necessary, keep a time log and be honest!) Ask simple questions, such as, “what do I need to be doing right now?” Make plans to work at the right time, play at the right time, and rest at the right time.